Lady Lions shutout Lady 'Cats
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
LEESBURG - The Fairfield Lady Lions cut down on miscues and provided backup for the pitching Tuesday night at Fairfield High School. After losing to the McClain Lady Tigers the previous night, it was the Lady Lions who did what was needed for a 7-0 win against Highland County and Southern Hills League rival Whiteoak.
Both teams played close to even for the first four innings, but the fifth belonged to the Lady Lions as they plated four runs to take a 5-0 lead. FHS added two runs in the sixth for the seven-run advantage.
FHS sophomore pitcher Lauren Larrick pitched a three-hit shutout, striking out 11 batters. The sophomore was also productive from the plate with a sixth-inning home run.
Larrick had double strikeouts in five of seven innings pitched in the circle. The sophomore struck out two batters in all but the second and fourth innings. Larrick walked none and held the Lady 'Cats hitless through the first four innings.
"This was a great win for us," FHS head coach Matthew Zimmerman said. "The big key for us was we had people playing out of position (due to injuries), and those players stepped up. When you are banged up like we are, you need that."
FHS assistant coach Tom Purtell also praised how the Lady Lions stepped up as a team Tuesday.
"It is hard to play out of a comfort zone, but the girls did that (Tuesday)," Purtell said. "But, the girls knew what to expect when they came to the ballpark."
The Lady Lions scored their first run in the second with Tiffany Woods rounding the bases. Woods reached the bases with a double.
Fairfield added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth, scoring four times.
Kylie Bates began the inning with a single, then took second base. Heather Huff singled, and Danielle Butler advanced everyone on a sacrifice bunt. Bates scored on an error, and Larrick took first on a different fielding error, allowing Huff to reach home.
Gabby Boone, a senior, doubled home Larrick, and Woods hit an RBI single to score Boone.
"It seems like we always have one bad inning," WHS head coach Bret Malone said. "We lose focus after an error or a hit and lose it for the inning."
In the bottom of the sixth, Huff, with one out, took the bases on a single. Larrick then hit the aforementioned home run for the final two runs.
Juanita Nichols was charged with the loss.
Nichols pitched six innings, allowing seven runs (six earned), with no walks and five strikeouts.
In the top of the second inning Nichols gave up a lead off hit, then struck out the next three batters.
"Juanita hit her spots all night," Malone said.
The loss drops WHS to 3-9 overall, 2-5 in the SHL. FHS jumps to 8-4 overall, 7-1 in the SHL. There are six SHL games remaining this season.
FHS will be back in action Thursday at Peebles and Friday against Eastern Brown.
BOX SCORE
WHS 000 000 0 - 0 3 3
FHS 010 042 x - 7 12 1
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