Lady Lions off to scorching start; defeat Green Devils
Lead Summary
By
The Highland County Press-
SEAMAN - The Fairfield Lady Lions shut out the North Adams Lady Green Devils 12-0 to open the 2010 Southern Hills League season in a game played on Tuesday at North Adams High School.
The Fairfield Lady Lions were the home team on the scoreboard even though the venue was changed from Leesburg to Seaman.
Lauren Larrick (1-0) threw a two-hit shutout as the Lady Lion defense played outstanding, including two double plays. Offensively, eight different Lady Lion hitters combined to have 12 hits on the afternoon.
FHS wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first inning.
Heather Huff led off the inning with a bunt single and promptly stole second and third base. Danielle Butler laid down another bunt single to knock in Huff.
Abby Thackston then singled through short and third as Butler reached third base safely. Thackston followed by stealing second base. Whitney Hanenkrat hit a ground ball to the shortstop, as Butler scored on the fielder’s choice. Hanenkrat then stole second base, and Larrick hit a sacrifice fly to deep center field to score Thackston. Hanenkrat scored on a wild pitch.
Tiffany Woods singled to left field and advanced to second base when the ball went past the left fielder. An infield hit by Sirenity Smith moved Woods to third. Kylie Bates completed the scoring as she singled to right-center field, driving in Woods.
FHS added another five runs in the bottom of the second inning. Huff led off the inning with a single to left field, followed by a single to center field from Butler. Thackston was called safe on an error to load the bases.
Hanenkrat then stepped to the plate and blasted a grand slam home run over the left field fence to put FHS up 9-0.
One out later, Woods singled to center field.
Smith then laid down the sacrifice bunt, advancing Woods to third on the play. Woods made the score 10-0 by scoring on an error to complete the scoring in the inning.
The Lady Lions finished the scoring in the bottom of the fourth inning with two more runs.
Hanenkrat led off the inning with a double down the left field line. Lauren Larrick then singled down the right field line advancing Hanenkrat to third. Kortney Paris entered the game as a courtesy runner for Larrick. Woods followed with a sacrifice bunt to score Hanenkrat. Paris also scored a run in the inning on an error.
"As the Lady Lions batters were providing the offense, sophomore pitcher Lauren Larrick and the Lady Lion defense were taking care of business on the defensive side of the ball," FHS assistant coach Tom Purtell said. "Lauren did an outstanding job of mixing and locating pitches as she would scatter two hits while striking out seven batters."
FHS turned two double plays against North Adams.
Leading hitters for the Lady Lions included: Hanenkrat (2 for 2, doubles, grand slam home run, three runs and five RBIs), Huff (2 for 2, two runs, three stolen bases), Butler (2 for 2, two runs, one RBI), Woods (2 for int 2, two runs, sacrifice bunt), Thackston (1 for 3, two runs), Larrick (1 for 2, sacrifice fly, one run, one RBI), Bates (1 for 2, one RBI) and Smith (1 for 2, sacrifice bunt, one RBI).
Larrick (1-0) was the winning pitcher for Fairfield. She went five innings, with two hits, no runs, one walk, while adding seven strikeouts.
FHS will host SHL rival Peebles on Thursday, April 1 at 5 p.m.
[[In-content Ad]]