Melson tosses no-hitter as Lady Lions advance to district finals
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
MINFORD — Four runs in the bottom of the first was all the Lady Lions needed offensively, as sophomore Arica Melson controlled the game from the pitching circle, tossing a no-hitter, as the Lady Lions defeated Eastern Meigs, 8-1 in the Division IV SE District Semifinals.
The win on Thursday was a combination of sound hitting during opportune times from the Lady Lions' offense and the pitching of Melson. The ace of the Lady Lions pitched seven innings, allowing one earned run on no hits and six walks. The sophomore struck out 11, facing 27 batters.
Melson (14-7) struck out at least one batter in six of the seven innings pitched, with two strikeouts in the first, fourth and seventh innings. In the sixth, she struck out the side. Melson had one strikeout in the third and fifth innings.
Ten of the 11 strikeouts were with a swinging strike three.
[[In-content Ad]]"Arica pitched well," FHS head coach Matthew Zimmerman said. "The kids played with a lot of confidence.
"We came out strong, and to win in the tournament, you have to play like that. We also had strong defense."
FHS committed no errors.
The lone run scored by the No. 2 seeded Lady Eagles came in the fourth inning, with Tori Goble scoring on multiple balks by Melson. Goble initially reached the bases with a one-out walk.
As for No. 3 seeded Fairfield (14-10) at the plate, the Lady Lions had five hits, but also forced four walks.
Gaining hits were lead-off hitter Halie Chain, Grace Larrick, Shelby Smithson, Justice Hattan and Sirenity Smith. Larrick, Smithson, Heather Sanderson and Kaitlin Evans each drew a walk.
"We hit the ball hard and kept pressure on (Eastern Meigs) at the plate," Zimmerman said.
The top of the first set the tone as FHS first took the bases on a one-out base hit by Larrick, hitting the first pitch of the at-bat.
From there Smithson walked on four straight pitches, and Heather Sanderson in the ensuing at-bat, reached first on a fielder's choice with all three runners being safe.
Next, Cynnamon Sova-Davy was safe on a fielder's choice, allowing Larrick to score, keeping the bases loaded.
Hattan was safe on an infield error in the next at-bat, allowing both Smithson and Sanderson to cross home plate. Smith was also safe on an error, allowing Sova-Davy and Hatten to score runs.
With a four-run lead in place and Melson not allowing any hits, FHS eventually added to their lead in the third inning with Smithson and Sanderson scoring on a one-out base hit by Smith.
In the fourth, the Lady Lions added another two runs with Smithson blasting a home run over the right-centerfield fence, also scoring Shaylee Carson. Carson was the courtesy runner for Chain, who singled to start the inning, as those were the final two runs by the Lady Lions.
FHS left four runners stranded, while EHS stranded five, with FHS moving to 2-0 in the postseason.
Grace Edwards was charged with the loss for EHS. She pitched seven innings, allowing eight runs (four earned) on five hits and four walks, striking out three.
The Lady Lions will play in the district finals on Saturday at 1 p.m. as they will face No. 5 seeded Symmes Valley (13-11) at Minford High School.
SVHS defeated Whiteoak, 7-6 on Thursday. In their sectional final, SVHS defeated No. 4 seeded Crooksville, 12-4. FHS in their sectional final, won 8-5 over No. 6 seeded Green.
This will be the third consecutive district final game for the Lady Lions (fourth in the past five seasons), as they won the district championship last in 2011.
The win on Thursday was a combination of sound hitting during opportune times from the Lady Lions' offense and the pitching of Melson. The ace of the Lady Lions pitched seven innings, allowing one earned run on no hits and six walks. The sophomore struck out 11, facing 27 batters.
Melson (14-7) struck out at least one batter in six of the seven innings pitched, with two strikeouts in the first, fourth and seventh innings. In the sixth, she struck out the side. Melson had one strikeout in the third and fifth innings.
Ten of the 11 strikeouts were with a swinging strike three.
[[In-content Ad]]"Arica pitched well," FHS head coach Matthew Zimmerman said. "The kids played with a lot of confidence.
"We came out strong, and to win in the tournament, you have to play like that. We also had strong defense."
FHS committed no errors.
The lone run scored by the No. 2 seeded Lady Eagles came in the fourth inning, with Tori Goble scoring on multiple balks by Melson. Goble initially reached the bases with a one-out walk.
As for No. 3 seeded Fairfield (14-10) at the plate, the Lady Lions had five hits, but also forced four walks.
Gaining hits were lead-off hitter Halie Chain, Grace Larrick, Shelby Smithson, Justice Hattan and Sirenity Smith. Larrick, Smithson, Heather Sanderson and Kaitlin Evans each drew a walk.
"We hit the ball hard and kept pressure on (Eastern Meigs) at the plate," Zimmerman said.
The top of the first set the tone as FHS first took the bases on a one-out base hit by Larrick, hitting the first pitch of the at-bat.
From there Smithson walked on four straight pitches, and Heather Sanderson in the ensuing at-bat, reached first on a fielder's choice with all three runners being safe.
Next, Cynnamon Sova-Davy was safe on a fielder's choice, allowing Larrick to score, keeping the bases loaded.
Hattan was safe on an infield error in the next at-bat, allowing both Smithson and Sanderson to cross home plate. Smith was also safe on an error, allowing Sova-Davy and Hatten to score runs.
With a four-run lead in place and Melson not allowing any hits, FHS eventually added to their lead in the third inning with Smithson and Sanderson scoring on a one-out base hit by Smith.
In the fourth, the Lady Lions added another two runs with Smithson blasting a home run over the right-centerfield fence, also scoring Shaylee Carson. Carson was the courtesy runner for Chain, who singled to start the inning, as those were the final two runs by the Lady Lions.
FHS left four runners stranded, while EHS stranded five, with FHS moving to 2-0 in the postseason.
Grace Edwards was charged with the loss for EHS. She pitched seven innings, allowing eight runs (four earned) on five hits and four walks, striking out three.
The Lady Lions will play in the district finals on Saturday at 1 p.m. as they will face No. 5 seeded Symmes Valley (13-11) at Minford High School.
SVHS defeated Whiteoak, 7-6 on Thursday. In their sectional final, SVHS defeated No. 4 seeded Crooksville, 12-4. FHS in their sectional final, won 8-5 over No. 6 seeded Green.
This will be the third consecutive district final game for the Lady Lions (fourth in the past five seasons), as they won the district championship last in 2011.