Lady Lions score early; defeat Westfall
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
LEESBURG — Even though the original start time was pushed back, and the Fairfield Lady Lions played on their second field, they overcame the elements for the fourth straight win to start the season.
FHS (4-0) scored six runs in the first three innings, more than enough to defend their home field, defeating the Westfall Lady Mustangs, 8-3 Saturday afternoon.
The day was scheduled to have two games, but due to time and field conditions, there was just one game played between the non-league opponents.
FHS came out early with a three-run first inning, followed with a one-run second and two-run third. FHS added runs in the fourth and fifth innings for their eight-run total.
Westfall scored their runs in the first, third and fourth innings, including a home run by Olivia Beavers.
FHS assistant coach Tom Purtell said the Lady Lions have displayed a winning formula in their first four games.
"The team gets an early lead, (along with) building a lead through the middle innings," he said. "They also run the bases aggressively, hit the ball with power, play outstanding defense, get outstanding pitching, and (then) slam the door on the opponent in the late innings."
Lauren Larrick was the winning pitcher for FHS, winning her fourth straight game to start the season. Larrick, a junior, went the complete seven innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on six hits and one walk.
Larrick finished with 12 strikeouts, giving the junior 42 strikeouts this season.
The loss was charged to Gwen Rosshirt (1-1). She pitched 2 1-3 innings, allowing six runs (four earned) on six hits and no walks. Katie Redman pitched 3 2-3 innings of relief, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks.
The offense for the Lady Lions stood out Saturday afternoon as Shelby Smithson hit a second-inning home run. The home run traveled over the left-center field fence, hitting a van as Smithson jogged around the bases.
Though Smithson's home run gave FHS a 4-1 lead, FHS took control in the first inning, tallying three runs.
The bottom of the first started with a leadoff double from Heather Huff, followed with Danielle Butler, who scored three runs against Westfall, reaching first on a dropped third strike. The wild pitch, dropped-third strike allowed Huff to reach third base and Butler to take second.
With one out, Whitney Hanenkrat singled for two RBIs, scoring both base runners. Larrick followed with a two-base hit, scoring Hanenkrat. Hanenkrat finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs and one run.
In the third inning, Butler started things with a lead-off single, followed with Butler reaching third base on a fielding error. The error allowed Abby Thackston to reach first base. Thackston went 2-for-4 with one run for the game.
Larrick, who batted 2-for-4, supported her cause with another double, sending the ball to the left-field fence, scoring Butler and Thackston. Larrick finished with three RBIs.
Leading 6-3 headed into the bottom of the fourth, FHS added another run. Butler kept the inning alive with a two-out walk, and scored on a single by Thackston.
The final FHS run came in the fifth with Smithson scoring on a two-out single from Kylie Bates.
The Lady Lions had one of their best weeks in the program's history, scoring 34 runs on 37 hits, including 12 doubles, one triple and four home runs. FHS batted .316 as a team in their first four games.
FHS will play again on Tuesday as they face the North Adams Lady Green Devils, on the road, at 5 p.m. On Friday, they will travel to Ripley for a 5 p.m. game. Both games are Southern Hills League games.[[In-content Ad]]
FHS (4-0) scored six runs in the first three innings, more than enough to defend their home field, defeating the Westfall Lady Mustangs, 8-3 Saturday afternoon.
The day was scheduled to have two games, but due to time and field conditions, there was just one game played between the non-league opponents.
FHS came out early with a three-run first inning, followed with a one-run second and two-run third. FHS added runs in the fourth and fifth innings for their eight-run total.
Westfall scored their runs in the first, third and fourth innings, including a home run by Olivia Beavers.
FHS assistant coach Tom Purtell said the Lady Lions have displayed a winning formula in their first four games.
"The team gets an early lead, (along with) building a lead through the middle innings," he said. "They also run the bases aggressively, hit the ball with power, play outstanding defense, get outstanding pitching, and (then) slam the door on the opponent in the late innings."
Lauren Larrick was the winning pitcher for FHS, winning her fourth straight game to start the season. Larrick, a junior, went the complete seven innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on six hits and one walk.
Larrick finished with 12 strikeouts, giving the junior 42 strikeouts this season.
The loss was charged to Gwen Rosshirt (1-1). She pitched 2 1-3 innings, allowing six runs (four earned) on six hits and no walks. Katie Redman pitched 3 2-3 innings of relief, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks.
The offense for the Lady Lions stood out Saturday afternoon as Shelby Smithson hit a second-inning home run. The home run traveled over the left-center field fence, hitting a van as Smithson jogged around the bases.
Though Smithson's home run gave FHS a 4-1 lead, FHS took control in the first inning, tallying three runs.
The bottom of the first started with a leadoff double from Heather Huff, followed with Danielle Butler, who scored three runs against Westfall, reaching first on a dropped third strike. The wild pitch, dropped-third strike allowed Huff to reach third base and Butler to take second.
With one out, Whitney Hanenkrat singled for two RBIs, scoring both base runners. Larrick followed with a two-base hit, scoring Hanenkrat. Hanenkrat finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs and one run.
In the third inning, Butler started things with a lead-off single, followed with Butler reaching third base on a fielding error. The error allowed Abby Thackston to reach first base. Thackston went 2-for-4 with one run for the game.
Larrick, who batted 2-for-4, supported her cause with another double, sending the ball to the left-field fence, scoring Butler and Thackston. Larrick finished with three RBIs.
Leading 6-3 headed into the bottom of the fourth, FHS added another run. Butler kept the inning alive with a two-out walk, and scored on a single by Thackston.
The final FHS run came in the fifth with Smithson scoring on a two-out single from Kylie Bates.
The Lady Lions had one of their best weeks in the program's history, scoring 34 runs on 37 hits, including 12 doubles, one triple and four home runs. FHS batted .316 as a team in their first four games.
FHS will play again on Tuesday as they face the North Adams Lady Green Devils, on the road, at 5 p.m. On Friday, they will travel to Ripley for a 5 p.m. game. Both games are Southern Hills League games.[[In-content Ad]]