Lady Hornets lose heartbreaker in regional semis
Staff- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
PEDRO — My kingdom for a clutch hit.
The usually potent offense struggled as the Coal Grove Lady Hornets lost a 3-2 heartbreaker in the Division 6 regional semifinals on Thursday.
“We just didn’t swing it,” said Lady Hornets coach Aaron Rice. “We had good pitching and we played pretty good defense. We only struck out one time. We just weren’t hitting the ball like we usually do.
“But give them some credit. They played well and they had two really good defensive plays that if they didn't make the catch it could have changed the outcome.”
Coal Grove (18-5) had a chance to take the lead in the top of the seventh inning.
With the game tied at 2-all, Coal Grove threatened but failed to capitalize.
Brianna Malone led off with a single and Haili McKnight was safe on an error.
But Malone was caught stealing and reliever Layla Kamer got a force out at second and a line drive to first base to end the threat.
West (15-13) came back in the bottom of the inning and scored the winning run after the first two batters were retired.
Ally Hedge singled, Maci Bradford walked, Lyla Cornell was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Brooklyn Pitts singled to right field to score Hedge and end the game.
Coal Grove took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning.
Malone reached on an error to lead off the inning and McKnight walked.
Deeds hit into a force out at third base but the runners moved up on a wild pitch. Brailie Hitchcock walked to load the bases. McKnight scored on a wild pitch and Izzy Kitts singled in the second run.
West answered with two runs of its own in the bottom of the inning.
Ariane Jordan walked and Erica Whisman put down a sacrifice bunt.
Jordan went to third on a ground out and Bradford doubled her home. Cornell reached on a two-base error as Bradford scored the tying run.
Abbie Deeds took the tough-luck loss as she worked 6.2 innings allowing only four hits, two earned runs, with seven strikeouts and no walks.
Kitts, Haynes and Malone all went 1-3 to account for the Coal Grove hitting.
Kamer got the win in relief as she went the final four innings giving up two hits, no runs with one strikeout and no walks. Starting pitcher Ariane Jordan went three innings giving up one hit, one earned run with two walks and no strikeouts.
Despite the loss, Rice had nothing but praise for this group of players led by the two seniors Deeds and catcher Rylee Black.
“This is a great group. They are good academically. They’re fun to be around. They come to work everyday and they try to get better everyday. It’s the kind of group you wish you could have every year. Our seniors were the leaders like they should be,” Rice said.
Coal Grove 002 000 0 = 2 3 2
Ports. West 002 000 1 = 3 4 4
Abbie Deeds and Rylee Black. Ariane Jordan, Layla Kamer (4) and Lainey Cook. W–Kamer (IP-4.0, H-2, R-0, K-1, BB-0). Jordan (IP-3.0, H-1, R-2, ER-1, K-0, BB-2, WP-2). L–Deeds (IP-6.2, H-4, R-3, ER-2, K-7, BB-3, WP-1, HBP-1). Hitting–Coal Grove: Izzy Kitts 1-3 RBI, Mia Haynes 1-3, Brianna Malone 1-3; Portsmouth West: Maci Bradford 1-3 RBI 2B, Brooklyn Pitts 1-4 RBI, Maleah Whisman 1-3, Ally Hedge 1-3.
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