Lady Lions start year 3-for-3
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
DODSONVILLE — Thursday was business as usual, at least thus far in 2012, as they earned their third consecutive run-rule win to start the season, defeating Highland County rival Lynchburg-Clay 13-3 after five innings at LCHS, Thursday.
FHS, who had already run-ruled Peebles and Cedarville to start the season, finished with 14 hits on the day, with senior Lauren Larrick going 3-for-3 with three RBIs and one run.
Larrick also gained the win in the circle to improve to 3-0 on the season. Larrick pitched five innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits and three walks. The senior struck out 11 of 23 batters faced.
Following the three hits by Larrick, Kortney Paris, Shelby Smithson, Halie Chain, Kaitlin Evans and Cynnamon Sova-Davy each collected two hits at the plate. Sirenity Smith had one hit.
Gaining hits for LC were Martin, Creighton and Jones.
"I'm pleased we got the win, but we must clean up our defense," FHS head coach Matthew Zimmerman said. "We hit well, and I shouldn't complain about three straight run-rule wins, but we aren't quite there with the little things of the game.
"Our bench played well, our base running was good, but it's just the little things and our defense."
The Lady Lion scoring began in the first with a six spot on the board.
Paris singled to start the game, followed by a walk by Courtney Huff. Smithson had a sacrifice bunt, moving the runners over a base, and the bases were loaded with a walk by Whitney Hanenkrat.
Larrick singled, scoring Paris, and Smith followed with a base hit to score Huff and Hanenkrat for two RBIs. Chain continued the hitting with a bases-clearing triple, scoring Larrick and Smith. Chain scored in a ground out by Sova-Davy.
LC responded with one run in their half of the first with Martin scoring on a ground out by Allen. Martin reached the bases with a lead-off single.
"Lynchburg-Clay is improved," Zimmerman said. "Gragg throws hard, and LC came ready to play."
FHS answered that run in the top of the second with Smithson scoring on a single by Larrick. Smithson doubled to lead off the inning.
In the top of the third, Chain, Sova-Davy, Evans, Huff and Smithson all crossed home plate for a five-run inning. In the inning, FHS had five hits.
The fifth inning had one more run for FHS, with Cheyenne Allen crossing home plate on a fielder's choice. Allen reached the bases on a lead-off walk.
"We are off to a good start to the season, two league wins and three overall," FHS assistant coach Tom Purtell said. "Like Matthew said, we need to work on our defense, and one of the biggest things is with all the strikeouts Lauren throws, sometimes we have to keep our defense awake. All-in-all, we're happy with the week."
LC had one run in each of the final two innings, with Allen scoring in the fourth and Martin scoring in the fifth.
The loss went to Gragg, who struck out three batters in five innings.
FHS will play again on Saturday at Westfall in a tri-doubleheader with their first game against Washington at 12:30 p.m. and Westfall at 2 p.m.
BOX SCORE
FHS 615 01 — 13 14 2
LC 100 11 — 3 3 2
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FHS, who had already run-ruled Peebles and Cedarville to start the season, finished with 14 hits on the day, with senior Lauren Larrick going 3-for-3 with three RBIs and one run.
Larrick also gained the win in the circle to improve to 3-0 on the season. Larrick pitched five innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits and three walks. The senior struck out 11 of 23 batters faced.
Following the three hits by Larrick, Kortney Paris, Shelby Smithson, Halie Chain, Kaitlin Evans and Cynnamon Sova-Davy each collected two hits at the plate. Sirenity Smith had one hit.
Gaining hits for LC were Martin, Creighton and Jones.
"I'm pleased we got the win, but we must clean up our defense," FHS head coach Matthew Zimmerman said. "We hit well, and I shouldn't complain about three straight run-rule wins, but we aren't quite there with the little things of the game.
"Our bench played well, our base running was good, but it's just the little things and our defense."
The Lady Lion scoring began in the first with a six spot on the board.
Paris singled to start the game, followed by a walk by Courtney Huff. Smithson had a sacrifice bunt, moving the runners over a base, and the bases were loaded with a walk by Whitney Hanenkrat.
Larrick singled, scoring Paris, and Smith followed with a base hit to score Huff and Hanenkrat for two RBIs. Chain continued the hitting with a bases-clearing triple, scoring Larrick and Smith. Chain scored in a ground out by Sova-Davy.
LC responded with one run in their half of the first with Martin scoring on a ground out by Allen. Martin reached the bases with a lead-off single.
"Lynchburg-Clay is improved," Zimmerman said. "Gragg throws hard, and LC came ready to play."
FHS answered that run in the top of the second with Smithson scoring on a single by Larrick. Smithson doubled to lead off the inning.
In the top of the third, Chain, Sova-Davy, Evans, Huff and Smithson all crossed home plate for a five-run inning. In the inning, FHS had five hits.
The fifth inning had one more run for FHS, with Cheyenne Allen crossing home plate on a fielder's choice. Allen reached the bases on a lead-off walk.
"We are off to a good start to the season, two league wins and three overall," FHS assistant coach Tom Purtell said. "Like Matthew said, we need to work on our defense, and one of the biggest things is with all the strikeouts Lauren throws, sometimes we have to keep our defense awake. All-in-all, we're happy with the week."
LC had one run in each of the final two innings, with Allen scoring in the fourth and Martin scoring in the fifth.
The loss went to Gragg, who struck out three batters in five innings.
FHS will play again on Saturday at Westfall in a tri-doubleheader with their first game against Washington at 12:30 p.m. and Westfall at 2 p.m.
BOX SCORE
FHS 615 01 — 13 14 2
LC 100 11 — 3 3 2
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