Lady Lions end year as district runner-up
Lead Summary
By
The Highland County Press-
MINFORD — The '12 Fairfield Lady Lion season came to an end on Saturday afternoon as they were shutout by the Crooksville Lady Ceramics 6-0, finishing the season as a Division IV SE District runner-up.
FHS (19-10), who were district champions last season, struggled early on defense but rebounded to play well defensively in the late innings as FHS totaled seven errors on the day.
[[In-content Ad]]Even as the defense improved, the offense didn't get hits when needed as they stranded six runners on base.
Crooksville’s Macey Anders shutout the Lady Lions, allowing just one hit.
FHS moved lead-off hitter Courtney Huff, who had the lone FHS hit, into scoring position in the top of the first inning but failed to score. The Lady Ceramics answered with three unearned runs in the bottom of the first inning.
Fairfield's best opportunity to score came in the top of the second inning, as they loaded the bases with two outs but failed to get the timely hit.
Crooksville added two more unearned runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a 5-0 lead and added an earned run in the bottom of the fourth inning to complete the scoring.
Lauren Larrick (18-8) suffered the loss for the Lady Lions. The senior pitched six innings, allowing six runs (one earned) on six hits and one walk, while striking out six batters.
Anders earned the win for Crooksville. She pitched seven innings, allowing no runs on one hit and three walks. She struck out eight.
FHS finishes the season with an overall 19-10 record and a Southern Hills League Championship (Division II) with a record of 12-1.
The Lady Lions won their 16th Southern Hills League title and their 26th Sectional Championship. Considering the injuries they had to deal with and the strength of their non-league schedule, this was a very successful season.
Playing their final game for FHS were Kortney Paris, Whitney Hanenkrat and Lauren Larrick.
Paris, a third baseman, suffered a knee injury early in the first Eastern game and missed the entire remainder of the season.
Hanenkrat and Larrick graduate as the most successful battery in Fairfield Lady Lion softball history. They have worked together as catcher and pitcher since seventh grade.
Hanenkrat graduates as one of the top catchers in Lady Lion history and the all-time leading home run hitter with 11 home runs, surpassing Gabby Holden (2008) with eight.
Larrick graduates holding almost every pitching record, except season strikeouts. Larrick ends her high school career with 58 wins, 26 shutouts, a perfect game, four no-hitters and six one-hitters. She has a career ERA of 1.45 with 672 strikeouts.
In tournament games, Larrick was 9-3-1 record in her four-year career, including seven shutouts. The seniors’ four-year record includes: three SHL titles, four sectional championships, two district runner-up finishes, one district championship and one regional runner-up finish during their junior year.
BOX SCORE
FHS 000 000 0 — 0 1 7
CHS 302 100 x — 6 6 1
FHS (19-10), who were district champions last season, struggled early on defense but rebounded to play well defensively in the late innings as FHS totaled seven errors on the day.
[[In-content Ad]]Even as the defense improved, the offense didn't get hits when needed as they stranded six runners on base.
Crooksville’s Macey Anders shutout the Lady Lions, allowing just one hit.
FHS moved lead-off hitter Courtney Huff, who had the lone FHS hit, into scoring position in the top of the first inning but failed to score. The Lady Ceramics answered with three unearned runs in the bottom of the first inning.
Fairfield's best opportunity to score came in the top of the second inning, as they loaded the bases with two outs but failed to get the timely hit.
Crooksville added two more unearned runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a 5-0 lead and added an earned run in the bottom of the fourth inning to complete the scoring.
Lauren Larrick (18-8) suffered the loss for the Lady Lions. The senior pitched six innings, allowing six runs (one earned) on six hits and one walk, while striking out six batters.
Anders earned the win for Crooksville. She pitched seven innings, allowing no runs on one hit and three walks. She struck out eight.
FHS finishes the season with an overall 19-10 record and a Southern Hills League Championship (Division II) with a record of 12-1.
The Lady Lions won their 16th Southern Hills League title and their 26th Sectional Championship. Considering the injuries they had to deal with and the strength of their non-league schedule, this was a very successful season.
Playing their final game for FHS were Kortney Paris, Whitney Hanenkrat and Lauren Larrick.
Paris, a third baseman, suffered a knee injury early in the first Eastern game and missed the entire remainder of the season.
Hanenkrat and Larrick graduate as the most successful battery in Fairfield Lady Lion softball history. They have worked together as catcher and pitcher since seventh grade.
Hanenkrat graduates as one of the top catchers in Lady Lion history and the all-time leading home run hitter with 11 home runs, surpassing Gabby Holden (2008) with eight.
Larrick graduates holding almost every pitching record, except season strikeouts. Larrick ends her high school career with 58 wins, 26 shutouts, a perfect game, four no-hitters and six one-hitters. She has a career ERA of 1.45 with 672 strikeouts.
In tournament games, Larrick was 9-3-1 record in her four-year career, including seven shutouts. The seniors’ four-year record includes: three SHL titles, four sectional championships, two district runner-up finishes, one district championship and one regional runner-up finish during their junior year.
BOX SCORE
FHS 000 000 0 — 0 1 7
CHS 302 100 x — 6 6 1