Lady Devils split games at Tri-State Showcase

FLATWOODS, Ky. — “Ah, might as well jump. Go ahead and jump. Might as well jump. Go ahead and jump.”

Russell Lady Red Devils’ coach Destiny Goins would like to see her young team follow Van Halen’s advice.

Although the Lady Devils did jump, Goins wished it would have been quicker as they beat the Chesapeake Lady Panthers 7-2 on Saturday.

“I think we could have jumped out a little earlier, maybe finished it a little bit earlier,” said Goins.

Russell is now 8-16 on the season after splitting its two games on the day, after losing 14-3 to Lincoln County following their win over Chesapeake.

“We’re super young. We don’t have anybody over a sophomore. We’re still trying to figure it out getting varsity minutes,” said Goins.

“Overall, not disappointed in the day as a whole, We’re still learning every game, but I’m pleased with where we are right now. We’ve got two weeks before district.”

Chesapeake used some small ball to take the lead in the first with KJ Collins drawing a walk and being advanced over to second on a sacrifice bunt by Felicity Bellomy. Madalyn Fry then singled back up the middle to bring home Collins to make it 1-0.

But the lead wouldn't last long as Bella Hall got ahold of a 3-1 pitch and drove it over the fence in left-centerfield to even the game up.

In the third, Russell put two across to take the lead for good.

Four-straight walks allowed the Lady Devils to take the lead. Hadley Cook' then hit a sacrifice fly to left that allowed Hall to score from third and make it 3-1.

However, on the throw home Bellomy made a heads-up play on an overthrow and threw down to third base allowing Frye to tag the runner trying to advance for the third out.

The Lady Panthers (7-13) manufactured a run in the top of the fourth as Kenadee Hager singled in a run on a grounder back up the middle to make it 3-2.

Hale wasn’t finished adding to her stat line as she capped off the scoring in the sixth with a solo shot into center to make it 7-2.

Hale pitched a 5-hitter for the win as she gave up 2 earned runs, struck out 3 and walked 4 in going. She also had a home run and a pair of runs batted in.

Hall was 2-3 with a home run, Highfield 1-2 with a double and an RBI, Smith was 1-1, Howard 1-4 with an RBI and Cook drove in a run.

Haylee Lafon got the loss although she gave up only 7 hits. She struck out 3 but had 8 walks and a hit batsman.

Collins and Bellomy were 1-3 for Chesapeake with Fry 1-4 and an RBI, Jaeden Anderson 1-4 and Hager 1-3 with an RBI.

First Game

Chesapeake 100 100 0 = 2 5 2

Russell 102 301 x = 7 7 3

Haylee Lafon and Felicity Bellomy. Karson Hale and Penelope Maddux. W-Hale (IP-7.0, H-5, R-2, ER-2, K-3, BB-4, WP-1). L-Lafon (IP-6.0, H-6, R-7, ER-7, K-3, BB-8, HBP-1). Hitting–Chesapeake: KJ Collins 1-3, Felicity Bellomy 1-3, Madalyn Fry 1-4 RBI, Jaeden Anderson 1-4, Kenadee Hager 1-3 RBI; Russell:  Ava Howard 1-4 RBI, Karson Hale 1-2 HR 2-RBI, Bella Hall 2-3 HR RBI, Allison Highfield 1-2 2B RBI, Norah Smith 1-1. Hadley Cook RBI.

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FLATWOODS, Ky. — Errors proved costly in the second game, as the Lincoln County Lady Panthers took advantage of Russell's miscues to post a 14-3 win Saturday evening.

“(Lincoln County) is a good team. We have to cut down on our errors. We had five. If we cut that out and hit a little bit more, then maybe it’s a little bit different ball game,” said Goins.

Already ahead 1-0, the Lady Panthers (0-0) increased their lead in the second. A solo shot from Lacy Harper on the third pitch of the inning made it 2-0.

Then with two outs, a fielding error allowed another runner to score and extend the inning. On the ensuing pitch, Keirsten Ross singled into center to drive home a run and make it 4-0.

The Lady Panthers added to their lead in the third with a 3-run homer from Abby Bowen to highlight the scoring the rest of the way.

Lincoln County got huge games at the plate from Bowen who had a home run and three RBIs and Harper with a double, a home run and an RBI. Laney Nelson went 3-3 with a double and an RBI, Jillian Starcher went 3-4 with two RBI, Abbie Jeffers had a double and three RBI, Halli Byrd had a double with an RBI, and Ross had a hit with an RBI.

Nelson earned the win for the Lady Panthers giving up 6 hits, 3 earned runs, striking out 4 and walking 3 in 5 innings of work.

Russell (8-17) was led offensively by Ava Howard who went 2-3 and Allison Highfield 2-2. Karson Hale went 1-2, Bella Hall went 1-3 with an RBI, and Ava Frasure with an RBI.

Nora Ladd took the loss for the Lady Devils.

Second Game

Lincoln Co. 133 25 = 14 12 2

Russell 001 02 = 3 6 5

L Nelson and L Harper. Nora Ladd, Kenyan Collins (3) and Karson Hale. W-Nelson (IP-5.0, H-6, R-3, ER-3, K-4, BB-3, HBP-1). L-Ladd (IP-2-1, H-7, R-7, ER-4, K-0, BB-1, HBP-0). Collins (IP-2.2, H-5, R-7, ER-4, K-2, BB-4, HBP-1). Hitting–Lincoln County: K Ross 1-3 RBI, J Starch 3-4 2-RBI, H Byrd 1-2 2B RBI, Abbie Jeffers 1-4 2B 3-RBI, L Harper 2-3 2B HR RBI, L Nelson 3-3 2B RBI, A Bowen 1-3 HR 3-RBI; Russell:  Ava Howard 2-3, Karson Hale 1-2, Bella Hall 1-3 RBI, Ava Frasure RBI, Allison Highfield 2-2.