Lady Tigers growing up on field; win 8th straight
Lead Summary

By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
GREENFIELD — The McClain Lady Tigers have reached the .500 mark in the standings for the first time in a long time this season. Using hot bats, including a home run shot, along with quality pitching, the Lady Tigers won their eighth straight game Wednesday, defeating first-place Clinton-Massie 7-1.
Not only did MHS avenge another early season South Central Ohio League loss with the win (starting the season 2-10), they continued to improve their play, which head coach Jarrod Haines says is due to the Lady Tigers just growing up on the field.
In their first meet, Massie won 6-4.
"We are just growing up as the season continues," he said. "We were young at the start of the season, but everyone is getting more at-bats, and with that they are gaining experience at the varsity level."
The experience was needed against one of the top SCOL teams, as neither squad could score a single run in the first three innings.
But a long ball by Peters of Clinton-Massie put the Lady Falcons up 1-0 in the top of the fourth inning.
The Lady Tigers not only got even, but got mad, adding three runs to their side of the scoreboard to go ahead 3-1 after the fifth inning was completed.
In the bottom part of the fifth, with one out, Kate Hammond reached on an error, followed with Jenna Perie doubling home Hammond for the RBI. With the score tied, along with two outs, Alex Taylor took the bases on an error. Perie scored on a base knock by Frankie Wise. Brittany Mullikin brought home Wise with a RBI single.
MHS (10-10, 6-4) added four runs to their lead in the bottom of the sixth taking advantage of big hits and Massie errors.
Down to their final two outs, Megan Dettwiller tripled to put herself in scoring position. Dettwiller scored but jogged home, when Kate Hammond hit a home run for two RBIs. Perie reached the bases following the home run on a CM miscue, followed with a single from Lawwell. Both were scored by Taylor.
Dettwiller gained the win in the circle for the Lady Tigers.
"Megan played a great game," Haines said. "She made one mistake but kept them off-balanced at the plate."
The junior pitcher went all seven innings, allowing one run (one earned) on two hits and four walks. Dettwiller finished with eight strikeouts.
In the fourth inning, MHS had three different base runners with Lawwell hitting a double, Wise drawing a walk and Mullikin reaching first after being hit by a pitch.
The win lifts MHS to 10-10 overall, with an SCOL mark of 6-4.
McClain will host Miami Trace Friday at 5 p.m. in SCOL play.
BOX SCORE
CM 000 100 0 — 1 2 5
MHS 000 034 x — 7 7 2
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