Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PROCTORVILLE — The Fairland Lady Dragons may start slow, but fortunately they finally get rolling.

After falling behind, the Lady Dragons scored five runs in the fifth inning as they beat the Chesapeake Lady Panthers 6-2 Wednesday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

“We usually start slow, but we set a goal today not to strikeout and we did that tonight. We put the ball in play and made them have to field the ball,” said Fairland coach Mindy Clark.

“Our outfield did a nice job. We had two or three diving catches to take away hits. Mackenzie Riley had a nice catch at shortstop.”

The Lady Panthers were plagued by seven errors.

Chesapeake took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Laura Rice, Melanie Noble, Lindsey Davidson all walked and Breanna Skeens was hit by a pitch.

The lead went to 2-0 in the fourth when McKenna Hall reached on an error, stole second and scored on two passed balls.

Fairland then had the five-run rally in the fifth.

Tiffani Christian and Caitlyn Stone both reached on errors, Christian moved up on a fly ball and Maddy Kazee had an RI single.

Allison Shepherd was safe on an error allowing Kazee to score. Riley followed with a two-run homer.

The Lady Dragons added an insurance run in the sixth. Mollie Morris singled, stole second and scored when Ellen Hinshaw reached on an error.

Shepherd got the win for Fairland (2-4, 2-2) as she struck out six, walked two, gave up two hits and two runs — one earned.

“Shepherd is improving. She’s far exceeded our expectations,” said Clark.

Noble took the loss despite giving up just one earned run. She struck out four and walked two.

Chesapeake 100 100 0 = 2 3 7

Fairland 000 051 x = 6 6 2

Melanie Noble and Kelsey Huff. Allison Shepherd, Chandler Fulks (6) and Mollie Morris. W-Shepherd (IP-5.2, K-6, BB-2, H-2, R-2, ER-1, HBP-2). Fulks IP-1.1, K-1, BB-1, H-=1. L-Noble (K-4, BB-2, ER-1, HBP-1). Hitting-Chesapeake: Kelsey Huff 1-4, Alyssa Scott 1-3, McKenna Wells 1-3; Fairland: Mollie Morris 1-4, Caitlyn Stone 2-4, Maddy Kazee 1-4 rbi, Allison Shepherd 1-3, Mackenzie Riley 1-3 rbi-1 HR. HR-Fairland: Mackenzie Riley.