Lady Indians rally with 6-5 win over Lady Lions
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
The Hillsboro Lady Indians defended their field with a four-run, seventh inning rally. The rally by the Lady Tribe allowed them to gain not only their third win of the season, but a win against a Highland County foe, as they defeated the Fairfield Lady Lions 6-5.
The game-winning single came off the bat of sophomore Sara Ray in the bottom of the seventh as the bases were loaded with no outs.
When Ray stepped into the batter's box, HHS had just tied the game when A.J. Sanders safely slid into home plate when Jennifer Williams reached first on an error.
As Ray took the first pitch, HHS had the bases jammed with Jenni Middleton on third, Heather Storer on second and Williams standing at first.
On the second pitch, Ray singled the ball to left field, bringing in Middleton to end the game. After the game, her teammates rallied around her in celebration of the county win.
At the start of the seventh inning rally, Paij Shelton reached via error, then stole second base. Kaelee Sexton followed with a base hit, and Sanders took the bases on an infield error. Shelton and Sexton scored on a single by Middleton.
All four HHS runs were unearned.
"When we got down, it didn't get to us like it has in the past. Everyone battled, and Sara (Ray) got the winning hit when we needed a big hit," HHS head coach Krista George said.
In the final inning the Lady Lions committed four errors.
"We have a young team, so from time-to-time there will be bumps in the road," FHS assistant coach Tom Purtell said. "We have had trouble against non-conference teams and we want to play teams like Hillsboro to help us down the road."
But before the miscues and heroics of the seventh inning, it was the Lady Lions who scored first at the start of the contest.
In the top of the opening inning Fairfield's Danielle Butler reached on an error, followed with Lauren Larrick taking first on another HHS miscue. Tiffany Woods singled in Butler for the games first run.
Hillsboro answered in their half of the first, tying the game at one.
Shelton started the HHS inning by taking first after being hit by a pitch. With one out, Sanders was hit by a pitch to give HHS two base runners. Middleton then forced a base on balls and Storer batted in Shelton with a run-scoring single.
The game would stay tied in until the fourth inning when the Lady Lions added a run for a 2-1 lead.
With two outs, Larrick was walked. Larrick, who is the Lady Lions' pitcher, was replaced on the bases with courtesy runner Kortney Paris. Paris eventually scored the run as Taylor Butler forced a bases loaded walk.
"We didn't let the errors get to us," George said. "The girls hung in there, and Kayla (Rosselott) pitched a good game. I like the fact our attitudes were better."
In the bottom of the fourth Storer forced a walk, followed with Williams being hit by a pitch. Ray plated Storer with a sacrifice bunt, tying the ballgame at 2-2.
Paris again scored for FHS to push the Lady Lions ahead 3-2. Paris was the runner for Larrick as the sophomore reached base via error.
The Lady Lions added two more runs to their lead in the top of the sixth for a 5-2 advantage.
In the top of the inning FHS was forced into two quick outs as they hit the ball to second base for 4-3 outs.
Down to their final out of the inning Heather Huff reached on an infield error, followed with Butler hitting a single up the middle. Huff and Butler each scored on errors by the Lady Indians.
"We did what we wanted to do," Purtell said. "We pitched well, but we missed some opportunities early. We couldn't get the timely hits and that hurt us."
Kayla Rosselott eared the win for HHS. Rosselott pitched seven innings, striking out four. Rosselott allowed five runs (three earned) on nine hits and five walks.
"Give credit to Hillsboro," Purtell said. "They have been playing better and played well (Wednesday). Their pitching kept our hitters off-balanced."
Larrick suffered the loss in the circle. Larrick had eight strikeouts, with three straight in the sixth inning. The sophomore also pitched six innings, allowing six runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks.
For the Lady Indians at the plate Ray, Williams, Sexton and Middleton each had one hit.
At the plate for the Lady Lions Butler, Larrick and Jade Shelton each had two hits.
In the game FHS committed five errors, while HHS had three. FHS left five base runners on base, while HHS stranded seven.
The win lifts HHS to 3-7 overall. FHS falls to 5-3 on the season.
BOX SCORE
FHS 100 112 0 - 5 9 5
HHS 100 100 4 - 6 4 3[[In-content Ad]]
The game-winning single came off the bat of sophomore Sara Ray in the bottom of the seventh as the bases were loaded with no outs.
When Ray stepped into the batter's box, HHS had just tied the game when A.J. Sanders safely slid into home plate when Jennifer Williams reached first on an error.
As Ray took the first pitch, HHS had the bases jammed with Jenni Middleton on third, Heather Storer on second and Williams standing at first.
On the second pitch, Ray singled the ball to left field, bringing in Middleton to end the game. After the game, her teammates rallied around her in celebration of the county win.
At the start of the seventh inning rally, Paij Shelton reached via error, then stole second base. Kaelee Sexton followed with a base hit, and Sanders took the bases on an infield error. Shelton and Sexton scored on a single by Middleton.
All four HHS runs were unearned.
"When we got down, it didn't get to us like it has in the past. Everyone battled, and Sara (Ray) got the winning hit when we needed a big hit," HHS head coach Krista George said.
In the final inning the Lady Lions committed four errors.
"We have a young team, so from time-to-time there will be bumps in the road," FHS assistant coach Tom Purtell said. "We have had trouble against non-conference teams and we want to play teams like Hillsboro to help us down the road."
But before the miscues and heroics of the seventh inning, it was the Lady Lions who scored first at the start of the contest.
In the top of the opening inning Fairfield's Danielle Butler reached on an error, followed with Lauren Larrick taking first on another HHS miscue. Tiffany Woods singled in Butler for the games first run.
Hillsboro answered in their half of the first, tying the game at one.
Shelton started the HHS inning by taking first after being hit by a pitch. With one out, Sanders was hit by a pitch to give HHS two base runners. Middleton then forced a base on balls and Storer batted in Shelton with a run-scoring single.
The game would stay tied in until the fourth inning when the Lady Lions added a run for a 2-1 lead.
With two outs, Larrick was walked. Larrick, who is the Lady Lions' pitcher, was replaced on the bases with courtesy runner Kortney Paris. Paris eventually scored the run as Taylor Butler forced a bases loaded walk.
"We didn't let the errors get to us," George said. "The girls hung in there, and Kayla (Rosselott) pitched a good game. I like the fact our attitudes were better."
In the bottom of the fourth Storer forced a walk, followed with Williams being hit by a pitch. Ray plated Storer with a sacrifice bunt, tying the ballgame at 2-2.
Paris again scored for FHS to push the Lady Lions ahead 3-2. Paris was the runner for Larrick as the sophomore reached base via error.
The Lady Lions added two more runs to their lead in the top of the sixth for a 5-2 advantage.
In the top of the inning FHS was forced into two quick outs as they hit the ball to second base for 4-3 outs.
Down to their final out of the inning Heather Huff reached on an infield error, followed with Butler hitting a single up the middle. Huff and Butler each scored on errors by the Lady Indians.
"We did what we wanted to do," Purtell said. "We pitched well, but we missed some opportunities early. We couldn't get the timely hits and that hurt us."
Kayla Rosselott eared the win for HHS. Rosselott pitched seven innings, striking out four. Rosselott allowed five runs (three earned) on nine hits and five walks.
"Give credit to Hillsboro," Purtell said. "They have been playing better and played well (Wednesday). Their pitching kept our hitters off-balanced."
Larrick suffered the loss in the circle. Larrick had eight strikeouts, with three straight in the sixth inning. The sophomore also pitched six innings, allowing six runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks.
For the Lady Indians at the plate Ray, Williams, Sexton and Middleton each had one hit.
At the plate for the Lady Lions Butler, Larrick and Jade Shelton each had two hits.
In the game FHS committed five errors, while HHS had three. FHS left five base runners on base, while HHS stranded seven.
The win lifts HHS to 3-7 overall. FHS falls to 5-3 on the season.
BOX SCORE
FHS 100 112 0 - 5 9 5
HHS 100 100 4 - 6 4 3[[In-content Ad]]