Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

AID — The Rock Hill Redwomen were looking for a lot of the same things they’ve always wanted from the annual Valley of Thunder Softball Classic.

Well, they got it.

The Redwomen got good opponents and more good pitching from Jill Hairston as they beat Columbus Bishop Ready 4-2 and Zane Trace 6-1 on Saturday.

Hairston struck out four and did not walk a batter against Ready. She fanned eight and walked one as she pitched a four-hitter against Zane Trace.

“Jill was just being Jill. She was being consistent. That’s all we can ask or her,” said Rock Hill coach Sam Gue.

“Overall, we could have played better defensively, but the girls are competing. We like playing in this tournament. There’s always a lot of good teams to challenge you.”

Rock Hill took a 1-0 lead against Ready in the third inning when Kaci Russell singled, stole second and Jenna Lane doubled.

Ready tied the game in the fourth on singles by Shannan Waldo and Shelby Tracy and double by Hailey Bryan.

But Rock Hill (14-0) took the lead for good with two runs in the fifth.

McKenzy Barcus, Russell and Lane all singled and a balk scored a run. Hairston singled to re-load the bases and Makenzi Harrah hit a sacrifice fly.

The Redwomen added an insurance run in the seven when Lane singled, stole second and Harrah doubled.

The Lady Knights got a run in the seventh when Erica Ogden reached on an error and Waldo doubled.

Rock Hill scored five runs in the second inning against Zane Trace.

Brooklynn Kingrey doubld and Barcus had an RBI single. Alexis Brammer and Russell followed with RBI doubles, Lane reached on an error, Hairston walked and two passed balls scored two runs.

The final run scored in the fifth on a passed ball after Hairston doubled and Harrah and Kingrey walked to load the bases.

Rock Hill hosts Ironton on Monday in the Stephanie Spielman Cancer Awareness game.

First Game

Rock Hill 001 020 1 = 4 11 1

Col. Ready 000 100 1 = 2 11 1

Jill Hairston and Riann Keating. Hailey Bryan and Shelby Tracy. W-Hairston (K-4, BB-0). L-Bryan (K-5,BB-1). Hitting—RH: Kaci Russell 2-4, Jenna Lane 3-4 2B rbi, Jill Hairston 2-4, Makenzi Harrah 1-3 2B rbi-2, Brooklynn Kingrey 1-3, McKenzy Barcus 1-2, Alexis Brammer 1-3 2B; Ready: Jessica Champa 1-4, Erica Ogden 2-4, Shannan Waldo 3-4 2B rbi, Shelby Tracy 1-4, Hailey Bryan 1-3 2B, Candace Clark 1-3, Brook Minnehan 1-3, Naomi Etgen 1-3.

 

Second Game

Zane Trace 000 000 1 = 1 4 2

Rock Hill 050 010 x = 6 6 3

Stacy and Arledge. Jill Hairston and Riann Keating. W-Hairston (K-8, BB-1). L-Stacy (K-1, BB-5). Hitting—ZT: Sharp 1-2, Stacy 1-2, Rose 1-3, Quick 1-3; RH: Kaci Russell 1-4 2B rbi, Jenna Lane 1-4, Jill Hairston 1-3 2B, Brooklynn Kingrey 1-1 2B, McKenzy Barcus 1-2 rbi, Alexis Brammer 1-3 2B rbi.