Spruell paves way to Hillsboro victory over Fairfield
Hillsboro's Camryn Spruell is pictured as she hits her second home run of the day Friday. (HCP Photo/Stephen Forsha)
HILLSBORO — Whether it was in the pitching circle or at the plate, Hillsboro junior Camryn Spruell was a force to be reckoned with Friday against a non-conference foe, the Fairfield Lady Lions, in their Highland County battle at Hillsboro High School, as HHS won by a 10-2 score.
There was joy in Hillsboro with “Camryn at the Plate” on Friday, as the junior finished 3-for-4 with two runs and four RBI, smashing two home runs — one landing on a hill at the new softball stadium, and the other easily clearing the left field fence.
“Cam’s done a phenomenal job,” Hillsboro head coach Gary Breeden said. “The work she puts in when nobody's around, it shows up. Everybody gets to see the fruits of her labor, but they don't see the labor. This young lady works harder than anybody around.”
Hillsboro (3-1) — who were facing Fairfield for the first time in 12 years — led 1-0 after the first inning off Spruell’s first home run of the game, as the ball landed on the hill after sailing over the left field fence for the one-run lead.
Fairfield (2-2) later took a 2-1 lead with a two-run top of the fourth, with Emmi Vance smashing a two-run home run to centerfield for the 2-1 lead, as Alyssa Bales was on the bases as she was pinch-running for Caitlyn Quickle.
The Lady Indians regained the lead with a three-run fourth inning as they used the bottom of the inning to take a 4-2 advantage. In the bottom of the fourth, it began with HHS striking out to lead off the inning on a five-pitch at-bat. Next, Isabelle Brunck took first on an infield error and advanced to second on the same error.
“One thing we've worked on all spring is when something's given, make it hurt,” Breeden said. “Our kids have picked up on it, they're bought into it and they love it.”
Addy Huff singled to left field, scoring Brunck, while Huff eventually landed on second base on the throw to home. Alex Magee took first after being hit by a pitch, and Morgan Garman reached first base on an infield error, scoring Huff, moving Magee to third base and seeing Garman take second base on the error.
Magee scored a run on a groundout to second base for the 4-2 advantage.
HHS added six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, beginning with Huff hitting a single to centerfield, followed by a double by Magee.
Both runners scored on a single to deep centerfield by Halle Reveal. Mylea Fridley followed by hitting a single to left field, moving Reveal to second.
With two runners on the bases, Spruell smashed a three-run home run to left field, on a 0-1 count, for a 9-2 lead.
HHS wasn’t finished as Reagan Clemons singled, Chloe Roberts hit a double, and Brunck hit a ground out to second base, scoring Clemons and moving Roberts to third base, for the final 10-2 score. Spruell finished the complete game with three straight outs in the circle in the top of the seventh inning.
Hillsboro finished the game with 13 hits, and Fairfield totaled two hits. The Lady Lions committed three errors, while HHS committed one error.
“It was kind of the game we thought we were going to have,” Breeeden said. “Leesburg kids, they come out and they play hard. They play fundamentally sound, and you know, we just had to keep chipping away and chipping away, and we finally did.
“I can't be any prouder of the kids.”
In the circle, Spruell pitched all seven innings, allowing two earned runs on two hits and one walk. Spruell totaled 17 strikeouts as she threw 110 pitches, 81 for strikes.
Katelyn Chambliss was charged with the loss, finishing with two strikeouts as she threw 97 pitches, 65 for strikes.
At the plate for Hillsboro, Roberts finished 2-for-4 (a double), and Huff was 2-for-4 with two runs and one RBI. Having one hit each were Reveal (one run, three RBI), Fridley (one run), Clemons (one run), Eowyn Brown and Magee (HBP, double, two runs).
Hits for Fairfield were by Vance (home run, one run, two RBI) and Caitlyn Quickle. Jobey Hattan was hit by a pitch. Rilee Quickle and Hattan each had a steal.
BOX SCORE
FHS 000 020 0 — 2 2 3
HHS 100 306 x — 10 13 1
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