Hillsboro softball edges out McClain by one run
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
HILLSBORO — One day after winning by 15 runs over rival McClain on the road, the Hillsboro Lady Indians faced the same Lady Tiger team for a second consecutive day. This time, the game was much more competitive, as Hillsboro defeated MHS by a 1-0 score at Alice Cassner Field on Friday evening.
The game was close from start to finish as the lone run of the game was scored by the Lady Indians in the bottom of the second inning. In all, HHS totaled four hits in the win, while McClain was held to a hit, and the Lady Tigers committed the lone error of the game.
The run-scoring inning for Hillsboro started off with a lead-off single by KaleyJo Myers. After courtesy runner Mylea Fridley stood at first base, she took second on a passed ball, and following the first out of the inning, Fridley crossed home plate for a run when Emma Taylor hit a hard line drive single to centerfield.
Both teams left runners on the bases, but in the end Hillsboro’s pitching and defense outlasted the pitching and defense of McClain, as both teams kept their opponents off-balanced at the plate and made solid plays defensively.
Camryn Spruell was the winning pitcher for Hillsboro, throwing a complete game in the circle. She allowed no runs in the shutout win on one hit and two walks. Spruell finished with 13 strikeouts in the win.
“Cam has been throwing well for us all year, and (Friday) was one of those nights she was focused, hit her spots and did what she needed to do on the mound,” Hillsboro head coach Gary Breeden said. “When (McClain) put the bat on the ball, we were behind her. It was a good team win, and a 1-0 win is always a good team win every time and anytime.”
McClain’s Vivian Dennis was charged with the tough luck loss. She allowed one earned run on four hits and three walks, with two strikeouts in seven innings.
At the plate for McClain, Dennis had the lone hit, while walks were forced by Harley Peabody and Kelsey Smith.
“I told the kids — we talked about it after Thursday’s game — that we didn’t play awful, but being the young, inexperienced team we are, we just have trouble playing at a consistent level,” MHS head coach Ed Bolender said. “The last two nights we’ve really come around a good bit, and (Friday) Blythe threw an outstanding game and we made plays behind her defensively.
“You have to give credit to Hillsboro, they are obviously the real deal. We knew we’d have to pretty much play a perfect game, which defensively we probably did, but we just have to do better in the box and get hits when we need them. We had a runner on second, and we just came up short one big hit.”
For Hillsboro, their four hits were by Halle Reveal, Kinsey Gilliland, Myers and Taylor. Walks were forced by Kayla Roberts, Gilliland and Gracey Dearmon.
Reveal, Roberts and Gilliland (two) all had steals.
The win moves the first-place Hillsboro Lady Indians to 6-0 in the FAC and 12-4 overall.
“We are the hunted now,” Breeden said about being in first place. “We have three games left with Jackson and Washington the first of next week, and we finish league play at Miami Trace. We are the hunted, and everyone wants to make sure we don’t win league.
“The biggest thing is we’ve been preaching together and we’ve been preaching family and it takes everyone to play, and (Friday) was proof of that. Everybody played their part tonight and played their roles, and that’s how you win 1-0 ballgames.”
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The game was close from start to finish as the lone run of the game was scored by the Lady Indians in the bottom of the second inning. In all, HHS totaled four hits in the win, while McClain was held to a hit, and the Lady Tigers committed the lone error of the game.
The run-scoring inning for Hillsboro started off with a lead-off single by KaleyJo Myers. After courtesy runner Mylea Fridley stood at first base, she took second on a passed ball, and following the first out of the inning, Fridley crossed home plate for a run when Emma Taylor hit a hard line drive single to centerfield.
Both teams left runners on the bases, but in the end Hillsboro’s pitching and defense outlasted the pitching and defense of McClain, as both teams kept their opponents off-balanced at the plate and made solid plays defensively.
Camryn Spruell was the winning pitcher for Hillsboro, throwing a complete game in the circle. She allowed no runs in the shutout win on one hit and two walks. Spruell finished with 13 strikeouts in the win.
“Cam has been throwing well for us all year, and (Friday) was one of those nights she was focused, hit her spots and did what she needed to do on the mound,” Hillsboro head coach Gary Breeden said. “When (McClain) put the bat on the ball, we were behind her. It was a good team win, and a 1-0 win is always a good team win every time and anytime.”
McClain’s Vivian Dennis was charged with the tough luck loss. She allowed one earned run on four hits and three walks, with two strikeouts in seven innings.
At the plate for McClain, Dennis had the lone hit, while walks were forced by Harley Peabody and Kelsey Smith.
“I told the kids — we talked about it after Thursday’s game — that we didn’t play awful, but being the young, inexperienced team we are, we just have trouble playing at a consistent level,” MHS head coach Ed Bolender said. “The last two nights we’ve really come around a good bit, and (Friday) Blythe threw an outstanding game and we made plays behind her defensively.
“You have to give credit to Hillsboro, they are obviously the real deal. We knew we’d have to pretty much play a perfect game, which defensively we probably did, but we just have to do better in the box and get hits when we need them. We had a runner on second, and we just came up short one big hit.”
For Hillsboro, their four hits were by Halle Reveal, Kinsey Gilliland, Myers and Taylor. Walks were forced by Kayla Roberts, Gilliland and Gracey Dearmon.
Reveal, Roberts and Gilliland (two) all had steals.
The win moves the first-place Hillsboro Lady Indians to 6-0 in the FAC and 12-4 overall.
“We are the hunted now,” Breeden said about being in first place. “We have three games left with Jackson and Washington the first of next week, and we finish league play at Miami Trace. We are the hunted, and everyone wants to make sure we don’t win league.
“The biggest thing is we’ve been preaching together and we’ve been preaching family and it takes everyone to play, and (Friday) was proof of that. Everybody played their part tonight and played their roles, and that’s how you win 1-0 ballgames.”
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