Lady Mustangs fend off SHAC rival Whiteoak

DODSONVILLE — Behind 12 hits and a stellar pitching and hitting performance from Noel Barnhill, the Lynchburg-Clay Lady Mustangs were able to fend off a late-charging Whiteoak Lady Wildcats team as they defeated their Southern Hills Athletic Conference rival, 11-5 on Monday at LCHS. 

The win on April 28 included Barnhill leading the way, finishing with a 3-for-4 day at the plate, with one RBI and two steals. In the circle, she was the winning pitcher, going five innings, allowing one earned run on five hits and no walks with 11 strikeouts. The first strikeout of the game gave Barnhill her 400th career strikeout. 

The game saw the Lady Mustangs start off with two runs in the bottom of the first inning, followed by a seven-run second inning as Lynchburg-Clay built a 9-0 lead. 

Neither team scored for the next three innings, but in the top of the sixth Whiteoak made things a little more competitive as they put four runs on the boards, but LCHS answered with two runs of their own. 

In the top of their seventh, the Lady ’Cats scored one final run. 

“Noel came in and did her job pitching, recording her 400th career strikeout, and for a junior that’s pretty good,” LCHS head coach Brad Griffith said. “We put some runs on the board early and carried that momentum, and we needed it.”

Coach Griffith spoke about the pitching of Lynchburg-Clay this season. 

“Both of our pitchers are phenomenal,” he said. “Our freshman (Aubrey Roberts) is doing a great job coming in when we need her, and as a freshman she’s done great. 

“I can’t say enough about our junior Noel. She’s getting it done for us, and she’s a big part of the reason where we are right now. Our bats are backing her up, and we are on a nice roll.” 

LCHS totaled 12 hits in the win as a team, and after Barnhill’s three hits, next were Caitlyn Collins, Kami Collins and Sophia Michael with two hits apiece. 

Caitlyn Collins finished 2-for-3 with three runs, one double, one walk and two steals. Kami Collins was 2-for-4 with one RBI. Michael ended the day at 2-for-4 with two runs, two RBI and a double. 

“Our batting averages are improved from last year,” Griffith said. “Last year they were like .280 as a team, and the other day when I looked we were at .333, and that’s what it takes to win ball games, and they understood that.”

Avery Blankenship finished 1-for-3 with one RBI. Also with a hit was Aubrey Roberts, ending the game at 1-for-3 with one run, three RBI, a walk and two steals. Reese Ruble also collected a hit for LCHS, finishing 1-for-3 with one run, one RBI, a double and one hit by pitch.

The Lady Mustangs also had Audrey Barry score two runs and force two walks, and she collected a stolen base. Jazmine Brown finished the game with one run and two steals. Lily Ferguson totaled one run and was hit by a pitch. 

“Sophia is having a heck of a year,” Griffith said. “Reese and Audrey are also getting it done for us. All my hitters this year have really stepped up and have done a good job. We are picking each other up and getting the job done.

“I can’t say enough about our hitting this year, and it makes it really nice everyone has stepped up at different times.”

Whiteoak at the plate was led by Kylee Ruark, who was 2-for-4 with one run and two RBI.

Janelle Clift finished 1-for-3 with a double and a steal. Oakley Engle went 1-for-3 for WHS, finishing with one run, one RBI and a double. 

The Lady ’Cats also had Kylee Hamm go 1-for-4 with two runs. Addy Hauke was 1-for-3 with a run, while Charli Hauke finished 1-for-3 with one RBI and a steal.

Lily Leston ended the day at 1-for-3 with an RBI. Leston also pitched for WHS, totaling four strikeouts with no walks. 

LCHS now stands at 13-3 overall and are first place in the SHAC Division I standings at 8-1. WHS moves to 2-7 overall and are 2-4 in the SHAC Division II standings. 

“I’m ecstatic with how the season has went so far,” Griffith said. “The girls are doing great, and I can’t ask for more. They are giving me everything they’ve got every day, and we are putting up wins, and they’re not easy wins.

“We are 8-1 in the SHAC, so we’re hanging in there. I’m proud of them, and they are doing a great job.”  

BOX SCORE
WHS    000 004 1 — 5 
LCHS    270 002 x — 11