Lady Tigers answer challenge
Lead Summary
By
The Highland County Press-
It was all East Clinton early in Greenfield on Monday night, but later in the South Central Ohio League matchup, the McClain Lady Tigers took back the game to defend their home field for a 4-3 victory.
The Lady Astros took advantage of the Lady Tigers' miscues early on as Hannah Barnes led off the second with a single, stole second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch. One batter later, Paula Norris walked, and Barnes scored on an errant throw from the McClain catcher. Norris advanced on another overthrow from the centerfielder.
Cierra Landrum then struck out the next two batters, before Roosa knocked Norris in on a single to put the Astros ahead.
"We threw the ball around in the second inning, and they took advantage of it … that's not us," McClain head coach Jarrod Haines said. "We couldn't execute the easy plays."
The Lady Astros added another run in the top of the third to make the score 3-0. MHS couldn't get anything going offensively in the first five innings as they left 10 runners on base.
"We had a lack of execution in the early innings … we had runners on base, but couldn't get them around," Haines said. "I challenged them in the middle of the sixth, saying 'let's get four runs and then hold them.'"
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The Lady Tigers accepted that challenge.
The bottom of the MHS sixth began when Shania Massie led the inning by blasting a triple over the right fielder's head. She was followed by Sarah Thompson, who doubled in Massie, as it was Thompson's second double of the game.
Morgan Dettwiller walked, and Caitlyn Lovett laid down a bunt for a single. Thompson scored on a throwing error, making the score 3-2.
Katy Unger hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Dettwiller to tie the score, and with two outs and Lovett on third, the big hit came from freshman Savannah Anderson. Anderson hit a single, scoring Lovett, to put the Lady Tigers ahead, 4-3.
McClain's defense shut East Clinton down in the top of the seventh to seal the victory.
"We had some huge hits in the sixth inning, including Savannah's at-bat," Haines said. "You put a freshman in that situation with a full count and two outs, with the game on the line, and she comes through with a hit … that was huge.
"I thought we settled down after the third inning. Our defense and pitching was key. They kept us in the game until we could get our bats working."
Offensively for the Lady Tigers, Alli Willett, Massie, Thompson, and Lovett had two hits apiece. Anna Ehlers and Anderson had one hit. Landrum picked up the win as she went seven innings, allowing three earned runs, while walking two and striking out seven.
MHS will play at VA Memorial Stadium on Tuesday as they face Vinton County in a non-league game at 5 p.m. MHS will host Hillsboro on Wednesday at 5 p.m. in SCOL play.
The Lady Astros took advantage of the Lady Tigers' miscues early on as Hannah Barnes led off the second with a single, stole second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch. One batter later, Paula Norris walked, and Barnes scored on an errant throw from the McClain catcher. Norris advanced on another overthrow from the centerfielder.
Cierra Landrum then struck out the next two batters, before Roosa knocked Norris in on a single to put the Astros ahead.
"We threw the ball around in the second inning, and they took advantage of it … that's not us," McClain head coach Jarrod Haines said. "We couldn't execute the easy plays."
The Lady Astros added another run in the top of the third to make the score 3-0. MHS couldn't get anything going offensively in the first five innings as they left 10 runners on base.
"We had a lack of execution in the early innings … we had runners on base, but couldn't get them around," Haines said. "I challenged them in the middle of the sixth, saying 'let's get four runs and then hold them.'"
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The Lady Tigers accepted that challenge.
The bottom of the MHS sixth began when Shania Massie led the inning by blasting a triple over the right fielder's head. She was followed by Sarah Thompson, who doubled in Massie, as it was Thompson's second double of the game.
Morgan Dettwiller walked, and Caitlyn Lovett laid down a bunt for a single. Thompson scored on a throwing error, making the score 3-2.
Katy Unger hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Dettwiller to tie the score, and with two outs and Lovett on third, the big hit came from freshman Savannah Anderson. Anderson hit a single, scoring Lovett, to put the Lady Tigers ahead, 4-3.
McClain's defense shut East Clinton down in the top of the seventh to seal the victory.
"We had some huge hits in the sixth inning, including Savannah's at-bat," Haines said. "You put a freshman in that situation with a full count and two outs, with the game on the line, and she comes through with a hit … that was huge.
"I thought we settled down after the third inning. Our defense and pitching was key. They kept us in the game until we could get our bats working."
Offensively for the Lady Tigers, Alli Willett, Massie, Thompson, and Lovett had two hits apiece. Anna Ehlers and Anderson had one hit. Landrum picked up the win as she went seven innings, allowing three earned runs, while walking two and striking out seven.
MHS will play at VA Memorial Stadium on Tuesday as they face Vinton County in a non-league game at 5 p.m. MHS will host Hillsboro on Wednesday at 5 p.m. in SCOL play.