Worth County played its worst game of the year in a 13-1 blowout loss that was just as ugly as the score. Not only did they commit ten errors in the game, they had to finish with eight players because Paige McPike was injured and they had already used up their substitutions for the game. Under the rules, had McPike's turn come up in the lineup, it would have been an automatic out.
Coach Todd Simmons said that there were no easy answers to such games except to "keep playing" and "keep our heads in there." He said that what was most disappointing was that it was upperclassmen who were making the errors. Worth County had every right to expect to win as South Harrison came into the game winless so far this year. The Tigers had played well against a strong Eagleville contingent and could reasonably expect to build on that game. But that did not happen.
Worth County got into a jam in the top of the first as South Harrison loaded the bases with two outs. But pitcher Delaney Davidson struck out Tiara Pettijohn to keep the game scoreless. Ashley Reynolds then hit a 250-foot triple to right field with two outs, but she was stranded at third when Davidson grounded out to end the inning.
The Tigers would then make five errors in the second inning as South Harrison took a 3-0 lead. With one out, Ashton Vandivert walked after a 12-pitch at-bat for the Bulldogs. Leah Mamminga hit a routine grounder to Brooke Gilland that she threw away for an error. Whitney Bennett then beat out a bunt down the third base line and then Mamminga went first to third on the play as secondbaseman Tonya Troutwine threw the ball away for an error. The Tigers made yet another error on the play as nobody covered second after the errant throw, allowing Bennett to take second. Then, Shea Lathrum hit what should have been a routine grounder to Ashley Reynolds at third; however, the ball rolled under her legs for one error and then Bailey McPike misplayed it in left field for another error. Worth County threw home on the play in an unsuccessful attempt to retire Bennett on the play and Rebecca Moore made an errant throw to third trying to get Lathrum at third. But Brooke Gilland backed up the errant throw and nailed Lathrum at the plate trying to score. That play stopped any further damage from being done and Worth County was fortunate to be down 3-0 at that point.
Amanda Downing doubled over the left fielder's head to lead off the bottom of the second and Tonya Troutwine moved her over to third on a bunt, but back to back strikeouts stranded her at third.
South Harrison went in order in the third but then scored seven in the fourth, most of the runs coming with two out. Mamminga walked and then stole second and reached third on a passed ball. Bennett then bunted out to Davidson to score Mamminga. Shea Lathrum reached on an error by Brooke Gilland at short, but Rebecca Moore threw her out stealing for the second out of the inning. But then Worth County's troubles started. Delaney Davidson hit Augusta Ratliff with a pitch and then Katelyn Addison singled to center. Brooke Adams in center then misplayed Ashley Nail's high hopper into center for a three-base error, scoring two; Nail scored on a wild pitch to make it 7-0. Delaney Davidson then walked two straight batters and the Vandivert hit a home run to the wall in right to make it 10-0. South Harrison threatened to pile on even more runs in the top of the fifth, but Augusta Ratliff was out trying to score on a wild pitch to end that frame.
Worth County scored its lone run in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs, Sidney Davenport hit a slow roller up the middle that nobody had a play on for a scratch hit. She took second on a wild pickoff throw and scored when Brooke Adams' fly ball was dropped in left to make it 10-1. But any hopes of a comeback were dashed when Paige McPike was hurt and unable to come onto the field for the top of the sixth. Ashley Reynolds threw away a grounder with the bases loaded in the top of the seventh to account for the rest of South Harrison's runs.
No comments:
Post a Comment