Lady Lions move to district finals
Lead Summary
By
The Highland County Press-
MINFORD — Just one day after clinching their 15th Southern Hills League title, the Fairfield Lady Lions shut out the 12-win Eastern Meigs Lady Eagles, 8-0 in the semifinals of the Division IV SE District tournament.
The Fairfield Lady Lions (17-2, 12-0 SHL) will play in the district title game on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Minford High School, where they will fact the No. 1 seed from the East, the Belpre Lady Golden Eagles. Belpre defeated Sciotoville (formerly Portsmouth East) by a score of 7-3.
"The girls are playing their best softball of the season at just the right time," FHS assistant coach Tom Purtell said. "For a second consecutive day they made it look easy. Lauren Larrick was absolutely dominating on the mound today."
Larrick, a junior, moved her scoreless innings streak to 24, as the Lady Lion defense played errorless softball.
For the game, Larrick (17-2) picked up the win for Fairfield. She pitched seven innings, allowing three hits, no runs, no walks, with 11 strikeouts.
The offense of the Lady Lions delivered a 15-hit attack against Eastern Meigs.
"The girls constantly kept pressure on the Lady Eagle defense, but most of all, they are playing with confidence," Purtell said.
Larrick and the Lady Lion defense retired the Lady Eagles in order in the top of the first inning; after that, it was time for the offense of FHS to get down to business.
Lady Lion lead-off hitter Heather Huff swung at a ball in the dirt on strike three, but reached first on the dropped third strike.
"Heather Huff has an unbelievable knack of getting on base for her teammates," Purtell said.
Danielle Butler and Huff executed the perfect bunt-and-run. Butler was out at first on the sacrifice bunt, as Huff raced all the way to third base. Abby Thackston was safe on an infield base hit, then stole second base. Whitney Hanenkrat singled just out the reach of the shortstop, scoring Huff, while Thackston advanced to third base.
FHS put runners on base in the second and third innings, but could not score.
On the defensive side of the ball, Larrick and her teammates were perfect through the first four innings, with 12 batters up and 12 batters down.
The Lady Lions gave themselves a cushion with two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Shelby Smithson led off the inning with a single to left field. Jade Shelton laid down a sacrifice bunt, moving Smithson to second base. Then, with two outs, Huff singled to knock in Smithson, stealing second base. Butler followed with a single to right-centerfield to score Huff.
The Eastern Lady Eagles gained their first hit off Larrick in the top of the fifth inning, a single to centerfield by Haylee Gillian.
Fairfield's offense scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
With two outs and no one on base, Thackston beat out an infield single to get things started. Hanenkrat singled to right-centerfield, moving Thackston from first-to-third. As Courtney Huff entered the game as a courtesy runner for Hanenkrat, Larrick singled to left field to drive in Thackston, making the score 4-0. Then with the bases loaded, Smithson stepped to the plate and belted a grand slam home run over the centerfield fence, moving the lead to eight runs.
After a one-out hit by Allie Rawson in the top of the seventh inning, Larrick reached back for a little extra, striking out the next two batters, sending FHS to the district championship game.
Leading hitters for the Lady Lions included: Hanenkrat (4-for-4, one run, one RBI), Larrick (3-for-4, one run, one RBI), Smithson (2-for-4, grand slam home run, two runs, four RBI), Thackston (2-for-4, one run), Heather Huff (1-for 4, two runs, one RBI), Butler (1-for-3, one RBI), Kortney Paris (1-for-4, one run) and Kylie Bates (1-for-3).
Brianna Hensley suffered the loss for Eastern Meigs. She pitched six innings, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on 15 hits, no walks, and one strikeout.
FHS will play the Belpre Lady Golden Eagles (14-4) in the Southeast District Championship game at Minford High School, Saturday May 21 at 1 p.m.[[In-content Ad]]
The Fairfield Lady Lions (17-2, 12-0 SHL) will play in the district title game on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Minford High School, where they will fact the No. 1 seed from the East, the Belpre Lady Golden Eagles. Belpre defeated Sciotoville (formerly Portsmouth East) by a score of 7-3.
"The girls are playing their best softball of the season at just the right time," FHS assistant coach Tom Purtell said. "For a second consecutive day they made it look easy. Lauren Larrick was absolutely dominating on the mound today."
Larrick, a junior, moved her scoreless innings streak to 24, as the Lady Lion defense played errorless softball.
For the game, Larrick (17-2) picked up the win for Fairfield. She pitched seven innings, allowing three hits, no runs, no walks, with 11 strikeouts.
The offense of the Lady Lions delivered a 15-hit attack against Eastern Meigs.
"The girls constantly kept pressure on the Lady Eagle defense, but most of all, they are playing with confidence," Purtell said.
Larrick and the Lady Lion defense retired the Lady Eagles in order in the top of the first inning; after that, it was time for the offense of FHS to get down to business.
Lady Lion lead-off hitter Heather Huff swung at a ball in the dirt on strike three, but reached first on the dropped third strike.
"Heather Huff has an unbelievable knack of getting on base for her teammates," Purtell said.
Danielle Butler and Huff executed the perfect bunt-and-run. Butler was out at first on the sacrifice bunt, as Huff raced all the way to third base. Abby Thackston was safe on an infield base hit, then stole second base. Whitney Hanenkrat singled just out the reach of the shortstop, scoring Huff, while Thackston advanced to third base.
FHS put runners on base in the second and third innings, but could not score.
On the defensive side of the ball, Larrick and her teammates were perfect through the first four innings, with 12 batters up and 12 batters down.
The Lady Lions gave themselves a cushion with two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Shelby Smithson led off the inning with a single to left field. Jade Shelton laid down a sacrifice bunt, moving Smithson to second base. Then, with two outs, Huff singled to knock in Smithson, stealing second base. Butler followed with a single to right-centerfield to score Huff.
The Eastern Lady Eagles gained their first hit off Larrick in the top of the fifth inning, a single to centerfield by Haylee Gillian.
Fairfield's offense scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
With two outs and no one on base, Thackston beat out an infield single to get things started. Hanenkrat singled to right-centerfield, moving Thackston from first-to-third. As Courtney Huff entered the game as a courtesy runner for Hanenkrat, Larrick singled to left field to drive in Thackston, making the score 4-0. Then with the bases loaded, Smithson stepped to the plate and belted a grand slam home run over the centerfield fence, moving the lead to eight runs.
After a one-out hit by Allie Rawson in the top of the seventh inning, Larrick reached back for a little extra, striking out the next two batters, sending FHS to the district championship game.
Leading hitters for the Lady Lions included: Hanenkrat (4-for-4, one run, one RBI), Larrick (3-for-4, one run, one RBI), Smithson (2-for-4, grand slam home run, two runs, four RBI), Thackston (2-for-4, one run), Heather Huff (1-for 4, two runs, one RBI), Butler (1-for-3, one RBI), Kortney Paris (1-for-4, one run) and Kylie Bates (1-for-3).
Brianna Hensley suffered the loss for Eastern Meigs. She pitched six innings, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on 15 hits, no walks, and one strikeout.
FHS will play the Belpre Lady Golden Eagles (14-4) in the Southeast District Championship game at Minford High School, Saturday May 21 at 1 p.m.[[In-content Ad]]