Fairfield Lady Lions win sectional championship for 35th time
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It was an absolutely beautiful day for softball as the Fairfield Lady Lions played host to the Eastern Lady Warriors Thursday, May 12 in a Southeast District Division III sectional championship game.
The sectional championship game featured the two best softball programs of the Southern Hills Athletic Conference over the last 50 years, and Fairfield (17-4, 10-1 SHAC) played one of their best games of the season as they shut out Eastern, 10-0 in five innings to win their 35th sectional championship in program history and their 20th consecutive sectional title.
Caitlyn Quickle (11-3) was brilliant in the circle and had full command of her pitches, throwing a one-hit shutout — her sixth of the season — while striking out eight batters. The Lady Lions defense made plays behind Quickle, and the Fairfield batters again were explosive at the plate.
After a scoreless first inning, Fairfield dented the plate with two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Emmi Vance led off the inning with a single to left-centerfield, and Sydney Sanders was hit by a pitch. Faith Miller laid down a bunt single that scored Vance.
Hannah Hamilton laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Sydney Sanders to third and Miller to second. Carly Sanders grounded out to the shortstop to score Sydney Sanders.
Fairfield then did what good teams do, increasing their lead with three runs in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, Jobey Hattan singled to centerfield. Quickle doubled to the fence in left-centerfield, sending Hattan to third base.
With first base open, Eastern chose to pitch to Vance, and she launched the second pitch she saw over the right-centerfield fence for a three-run home run.
After a scoreless fourth inning, Eastern (9-8, 6-5 SHAC) rallied to put two runners in scoring position in the top of the fifth inning. With two outs, Alyssa Perkins drew a base on balls. Katelyn Brown then worked Quickle to a full count and bounced a line drive over the left field fence for a ground rule double. It would be Eastern’s only hit of the game.
Quickle then retired the next batter on a routine fly ball to left field to end the threat.
The Lady Lions came out swinging in the bottom of the fifth inning. Hattan led off the inning with a line drive single to centerfield, and Quickle laced a line drive single to centerfield.
As Vance approached the plate for her turn at bat, Eastern decided they would not make another mistake pitching to Vance and issued an intentional walk to Vance to load the bases.
Vance has had eight hits in eight at-bats over the last three games, including three home runs. Sydney Sanders followed with a sacrifice fly to deep right field scoring Hattan.
Miller reached first on a bunt single to score Gwen Cox running for Quickle. Hannah Hamilton smashed a hard ground ball through the left side of the infield that scored Vance and Miller as Hamilton took third base. Carly Sanders then executed a perfect suicide squeeze bunt for a hit that scored Hamilton and ended the game, 10-0.
Leading hitters for the Lady Lions: Hattan (2-for-3, 2 runs), Quickle (2-for-3, double, 2 runs), Vance (2-for-2, home run, 3 runs, 3 RBI), Sydney Sanders (0-for-1, sac fly, hit by pitch, 1 run, 1 RBI), Miller (2-for-2, 1 run, 1 RBI), Hamilton (0-for-2, 1 run) and Carly Sanders (1-for-3, 2 RBI).
The Fairfield Lady Lions advance to Southeast District Division III Tournament at Unioto High School in Chillicothe Tuesday, May 17 with game time scheduled for 7 p.m. Fairfield, a No. 5 seed, will be the home team as they play No. 8 seeded Westfall. Westfall defeated Lucasville Valley, 7-0 in their sectional final game.
Fairfield finish the Southern Hills Athletic Conference schedule with a doubleheader with Lynchburg-Clay at the Fairfield Baseball/Softball Complex on Saturday, May 14 with a start time of noon.
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The sectional championship game featured the two best softball programs of the Southern Hills Athletic Conference over the last 50 years, and Fairfield (17-4, 10-1 SHAC) played one of their best games of the season as they shut out Eastern, 10-0 in five innings to win their 35th sectional championship in program history and their 20th consecutive sectional title.
Caitlyn Quickle (11-3) was brilliant in the circle and had full command of her pitches, throwing a one-hit shutout — her sixth of the season — while striking out eight batters. The Lady Lions defense made plays behind Quickle, and the Fairfield batters again were explosive at the plate.
After a scoreless first inning, Fairfield dented the plate with two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Emmi Vance led off the inning with a single to left-centerfield, and Sydney Sanders was hit by a pitch. Faith Miller laid down a bunt single that scored Vance.
Hannah Hamilton laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Sydney Sanders to third and Miller to second. Carly Sanders grounded out to the shortstop to score Sydney Sanders.
Fairfield then did what good teams do, increasing their lead with three runs in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, Jobey Hattan singled to centerfield. Quickle doubled to the fence in left-centerfield, sending Hattan to third base.
With first base open, Eastern chose to pitch to Vance, and she launched the second pitch she saw over the right-centerfield fence for a three-run home run.
After a scoreless fourth inning, Eastern (9-8, 6-5 SHAC) rallied to put two runners in scoring position in the top of the fifth inning. With two outs, Alyssa Perkins drew a base on balls. Katelyn Brown then worked Quickle to a full count and bounced a line drive over the left field fence for a ground rule double. It would be Eastern’s only hit of the game.
Quickle then retired the next batter on a routine fly ball to left field to end the threat.
The Lady Lions came out swinging in the bottom of the fifth inning. Hattan led off the inning with a line drive single to centerfield, and Quickle laced a line drive single to centerfield.
As Vance approached the plate for her turn at bat, Eastern decided they would not make another mistake pitching to Vance and issued an intentional walk to Vance to load the bases.
Vance has had eight hits in eight at-bats over the last three games, including three home runs. Sydney Sanders followed with a sacrifice fly to deep right field scoring Hattan.
Miller reached first on a bunt single to score Gwen Cox running for Quickle. Hannah Hamilton smashed a hard ground ball through the left side of the infield that scored Vance and Miller as Hamilton took third base. Carly Sanders then executed a perfect suicide squeeze bunt for a hit that scored Hamilton and ended the game, 10-0.
Leading hitters for the Lady Lions: Hattan (2-for-3, 2 runs), Quickle (2-for-3, double, 2 runs), Vance (2-for-2, home run, 3 runs, 3 RBI), Sydney Sanders (0-for-1, sac fly, hit by pitch, 1 run, 1 RBI), Miller (2-for-2, 1 run, 1 RBI), Hamilton (0-for-2, 1 run) and Carly Sanders (1-for-3, 2 RBI).
The Fairfield Lady Lions advance to Southeast District Division III Tournament at Unioto High School in Chillicothe Tuesday, May 17 with game time scheduled for 7 p.m. Fairfield, a No. 5 seed, will be the home team as they play No. 8 seeded Westfall. Westfall defeated Lucasville Valley, 7-0 in their sectional final game.
Fairfield finish the Southern Hills Athletic Conference schedule with a doubleheader with Lynchburg-Clay at the Fairfield Baseball/Softball Complex on Saturday, May 14 with a start time of noon.
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