Lady Lions gain second straight win
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
LEESBURG - The Fairfield Lady Lions continued to keep their Southern Hills League dominance in tact as they won their 13th SHL game going back to last season. On Thursday the victim was the Peebles Lady Indians as FHS used pitching and late inning scoring to defeat PHS 4-2.
The win in the circle was credited to Lauren Larrick.
The sophomore hurler pitched seven innings, allowing two runs (both earned) on four hits and one walk. Larrick finished with seven strikeouts.
As for the pitching performance by Larrick (2-0) she began the game by retiring the first three Indian batters to set foot in the batters box.
"Lauren pitched outstanding," FHS assistant coach Tom Purtell said. "She kept their batters off the bases with her pitching and just did well all day long.
"She kept their No. 3 hitter from hurting us and located very well. Lauren threw over 100 pitches. That is the sign of a good pitcher when they can work through things."
Then it was the Lady Lions who struck first in the bottom of the opening inning, as FHS gained a 1-0 lead, which remained the score for a majority of the game.
Heather Huff was patient at the plate by drawing a walk to lead-off the bottom part of the first inning. Once at first base, Huff didn't stay long and was on the move stealing not only second base, but third as well. The heads-up base running proved to be effective as Huff advanced home on a wild pitch for the game's first run.
Peebles threatened in the ensuing innings, gaining base runners and even loading the bases a couple times, but again the pitching from Larrick, along with the defense by Fairfield kept Peebles at bay.
With Larrick and the defense keeping the Lady Lions in the lead, the bats of FHS just couldn't score runners to add to their one-run advantage.
That was until the bottom half of the fifth inning.
In the fifth FHS came alive, starting with a lead-off double from Jade Shelton. After Shelton's double, which landed near the left field fence, she then took third on a wild pitch. With one out the lead-off hitter of the inning scored on a bunt-single by Huff.
Huff followed by scoring on a base hit to centerfield by Danielle Butler to put FHS up by three runs (3-0).
Fairfield increased their lead to four runs in the bottom of the sixth with a run scored by Tiffany Woods.
Woods, with one out, singled, then took second base on a passed ball. A single by Sirenity Smith put Woods to third base, as she scored on a wild pitch later in the inning.
Peebles threatened in the final inning by scoring their two runs.
"When I would talk to the ladies I heard confidence," FHS head coach Matthew Zimmerman said. "We have to have that confidence to be successful. Their coach gave us a nice compliment and said we played fundamental softball. This is a great group of kids to coach."
Leading the Lady Lions at the plate were: Smith (2 for 3), Jade Shelton (1-for-2, double, one run), Woods (1-for-2, SAC bunt, one run), Huff (1-for-2, two runs, one RBI, four stolen bases), Butler (1-for-3) and Larrick (1-for-3).
FHS will take on the Westfall Lady Mustangs Saturday at 11 a.m. at Westfall High School.
BOX SCORE
SCORE BY INNINGS
PHS - 000 000 2 - 2 4 3
FHS - 100 021 x - 4 7 1[[In-content Ad]]
The win in the circle was credited to Lauren Larrick.
The sophomore hurler pitched seven innings, allowing two runs (both earned) on four hits and one walk. Larrick finished with seven strikeouts.
As for the pitching performance by Larrick (2-0) she began the game by retiring the first three Indian batters to set foot in the batters box.
"Lauren pitched outstanding," FHS assistant coach Tom Purtell said. "She kept their batters off the bases with her pitching and just did well all day long.
"She kept their No. 3 hitter from hurting us and located very well. Lauren threw over 100 pitches. That is the sign of a good pitcher when they can work through things."
Then it was the Lady Lions who struck first in the bottom of the opening inning, as FHS gained a 1-0 lead, which remained the score for a majority of the game.
Heather Huff was patient at the plate by drawing a walk to lead-off the bottom part of the first inning. Once at first base, Huff didn't stay long and was on the move stealing not only second base, but third as well. The heads-up base running proved to be effective as Huff advanced home on a wild pitch for the game's first run.
Peebles threatened in the ensuing innings, gaining base runners and even loading the bases a couple times, but again the pitching from Larrick, along with the defense by Fairfield kept Peebles at bay.
With Larrick and the defense keeping the Lady Lions in the lead, the bats of FHS just couldn't score runners to add to their one-run advantage.
That was until the bottom half of the fifth inning.
In the fifth FHS came alive, starting with a lead-off double from Jade Shelton. After Shelton's double, which landed near the left field fence, she then took third on a wild pitch. With one out the lead-off hitter of the inning scored on a bunt-single by Huff.
Huff followed by scoring on a base hit to centerfield by Danielle Butler to put FHS up by three runs (3-0).
Fairfield increased their lead to four runs in the bottom of the sixth with a run scored by Tiffany Woods.
Woods, with one out, singled, then took second base on a passed ball. A single by Sirenity Smith put Woods to third base, as she scored on a wild pitch later in the inning.
Peebles threatened in the final inning by scoring their two runs.
"When I would talk to the ladies I heard confidence," FHS head coach Matthew Zimmerman said. "We have to have that confidence to be successful. Their coach gave us a nice compliment and said we played fundamental softball. This is a great group of kids to coach."
Leading the Lady Lions at the plate were: Smith (2 for 3), Jade Shelton (1-for-2, double, one run), Woods (1-for-2, SAC bunt, one run), Huff (1-for-2, two runs, one RBI, four stolen bases), Butler (1-for-3) and Larrick (1-for-3).
FHS will take on the Westfall Lady Mustangs Saturday at 11 a.m. at Westfall High School.
BOX SCORE
SCORE BY INNINGS
PHS - 000 000 2 - 2 4 3
FHS - 100 021 x - 4 7 1[[In-content Ad]]