Lady Lions score 32 runs in 2-game span, shut out opponents
The Fairfield Lady Lions scored a combined 32 runs Thursday and Friday while holding their opponents scoreless, winning by a 16-0 score against both Eastern and Green.
In the 53-year history of the Southern Hills Athletic Conference, the Fairfield Lady Lions and the Eastern Brown Lady Warriors are the two winningest softball programs. Fairfield has 24 conference titles, and Eastern has 19. Both teams finished as champions in Division I of the conference last year.
The teams faced off against each other Thursday afternoon at Eastern High School. Fairfield and Eastern have had many battles on the softball field over the years, but the Fairfield Lady Lions (8-5, 5-2 SHAC) cruised to a 16-0 victory over the Eastern Lady Warriors (2-6, 0-2 SHAC) as Fairfield continues to play their best softball of the season.
Caitlyn Quickle pitched her second consecutive shutout, limiting Eastern to just two hits as the Lady Lion defense again played errorless softball. But the star of the game was the Lady Lions’ relentless offensive attack, as they scored 16 runs on 13 hits including two home runs, and stole nine bases.
The Fairfield Lady Lions wasted no time, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. Rilee Quickle had an infield base hit to get the game started. Jobey Hattan had a bunt base hit as Rilee Quickle advanced to third base. Hattan stole second base on the next pitch. Caitlyn Quickle grounded out to the first baseman to knock in Rilee Quickle, as Hattan took third base. Emmi Vance then hit a home run over the centerfield field fence to give the Lady Lions a 3-0 lead.
Caitlyn Quickle retired the first six Lady Warrior hitters she faced, striking out the first five hitters in the lineup.
Fairfield erupted for eight runs in the top of the third inning. Caitlyn Quickle was hit by a pitch, and Whitlee Morrow entered the game as a courtesy runner for Quickle. Morrow stole second base and scored on a single to centerfield by Vance. Carly Sanders reached first on a dropped third strike, Katelyn Chambliss singled, Addison Bales walked, Sydney Hooper singled, Rilee Quickle walked and Caitlin Quickle hit a grand slam home run.
The Lady Lions completed the scoring with five runs in the top of the fifth inning. With one out, Rilee Quickle singled, Hattan singled, Caitlyn Quickle singled, Vance doubled and Sanders doubled.
Leading hitters for the Lady Lions: Rilee Quickle (2-for-3, 3 runs), Jobey Hattan (2-for-4, 2 runs, 1 RBI), Caitlyn Quickle (2-for-3, home run, 3 runs, 6 RBI), Emmi Vance (3-for-4, triple, home run, 3 runs, 4 RBI), Carly Sanders (2-for-3, double, 2 runs, 2 RBI), Katelyn Chambliss (1-for-4, 1 run, 2 RBI), Addison Bales (0-for-3, 1 run) and Sydney Hooper (1-for-3, 1 run, 1 RBI).
Caitlyn Quickle (7-4) picked up the win for Fairfield. Quickle’s pitching line: 5 innings, 2 hits, no runs, no earned run, no walks, 8 strikeouts. Allie Grooms (0-2) suffered the loss for Eastern. Grooms’ pitching line: 2 innings, 5 hits, 7 runs, 6 earned runs, 1 walks, 3 strikeouts. Grace Prewitt’s pitching line: 0.66 innings, 2 hits, 4 runs, 4 earned runs, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts. Addi Arey’s pitching line: 2.33 innings, 6 hits, 5 runs, 5 earned runs, no walks, 1 strikeout.
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The Fairfield Lady Lions (9-5, 5-2 SHAC) completed a truly impressive week, sweeping all four games on the schedule as they defeated the Green Lady Bobcats (1-7, 1-4 SOC III) Friday afternoon, 16-0 in a game played at the Fairfield High School Baseball/Softball complex.
Fairfield outscored their opponents during the week, 53-1, while pounding out 45 hits. As impressive as the offense was, equally impressive was the Lady Lions’ pitching and defense, giving up only one run on five hits and only one error.
Perfect games are truly rare. In the past 25 years, a truly talented series of Fairfield Lady Lion pitchers have only pitched two perfect games. Kaiti White pitched a perfect game in 2017 and another one in 2018. On Friday afternoon, senior pitcher Katelyn Chambliss and the Lady Lion defense came as close to a perfect game as a pitcher can. Three outstanding defensive plays — one by third baseman Rylee Quickle and two by second baseman Emmi Vance — kept the would-be perfect game alive.
Chambliss retired every Lady Bobcat batter in order and was one pitch away from the perfect game. With two outs and two strikes on her, Lady Bobcat hitter Bethany Kilgore laced a solid clean single to centerfield to spoil the perfect game. Chambliss then struck out the next batter to record the one-hit shutout.
Fairfield scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Hattan was hit by a pitch, Caitlyn Quickle was safe on an error, Vance doubled and Sanders hit a mammoth home run over the left field fence.
Fairfield added five runs in the bottom of the second inning. Hooper walked, Rilee Quickle singled, Hattan walked, Caitlyn Quickle doubled and Vance blasted a home run over the centerfield fence.
The Lady Lions added three more runs in the bottom of the third inning. Maynard doubled, Hattan singled, Caitlin Quickle walked and Vance was safe on an outfielder’s error.
Fairfield completed the scoring with four more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Chambliss walked, and Alyssa Bales entered as a courtesy runner for Chambliss. Morrow walked, Chloe Spangler walked, Rilee Quickle doubled and Hattan singled.
Leading hitters for the Lady Lions: Rilee Quickle (2-for-4, 2 runs, 1 RBI), Jobey Hattan (2-for-2, 3 runs, 1 RBI), Caitlyn Quickle (1-for-3, double, 3 runs, 3 RBI), Emmi Vance (2-for-4, double, home run, 2 runs, 2 RBI), Carly Sanders (1-for-3, home run, home run, 1 run, 3 RBI), Katelyn Chambliss (1-for-2, 1 run), Sydney Hooper (0-for-1, 1 run) and Ally Maynard (1-for-2, double, 1 run).
Chambliss (2-1-1) picked up the win for Fairfield. Chambliss’ pitching line: 5 innings, 1 hit, no runs, no earned run, no walks, 7 strikeouts.
Heaven Mattingly (1-5) suffered the loss for Green. Mattingly’s pitching line: 4 innings, 10 hits, 16 runs, 11 earned runs, 5 walks, 3 strikeouts.
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