Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

AID — From the frying pan into the fire.

Two tough games on Saturday are serving as a springboard to this week’s schedule for the Fairland Lady Dragons.

Fairland beat Chillicothe 12-4 and lost a 8-5 to a strong Portsmouth West team in the Valley of Thunder Softball Classic. The two games set the stage for this week’s four Ohio Valley Conference game.

“We played well against some tough competition,” said Fairland coach Mindy Clark. “We are still making some adjustments. We have a big week with four conference games.”

Against Chillicothe, Fairland go a run in the first on walks to Mollie Morris, Ellen Hinshaw, Mackenzie Riley and Morgan Fridley.

The Lady Cavaliers got two runs in the bottom of the inning and one in the second to lead 3-1.

But the Lady Dragons rallied for five runs in the third.

Maddy Kazee singled, Riley walked, Fridley reached on an error and Allison Shepherd singled. Jessica Baise walked and Morris and Caitlin Stone had back-to-back base hits.

Fairland scored three runs each in the fifth and sixth innings.

In the fifth, Hinshaw doubled, Kazee was safe on an error and Riley and Fridley singled.

In the sixth, Kortney Curry walked, Holly Ann Lunsford singled, Morris walked and Hinshaw was safe on an error. Kazee then singled in the final run.

Fridley went 2-4 while Kazee and Stone were both 2-5 as Fairland had 13 hits.

The Lady Dragons fell behind to start the second game as West scored twice in the first and second innings.

Fairland scored twice in the fourth starting with Hinshaw’s one-out solo home run. Riley and Fridley both singled and Shepherd reached on an error for the second run.

The Lady Dragons cut the deficit to 4-3 in the top of the fifth when Montanta Runnels and Morris singled and Kazee was safe on an error.

West got the run back in the bottom of the inning but Fairland tied the game with two runs in the sixth when Fridley singled and Shepherd belted a two-run homer.

However, the Lady Senators used a walked, two singles and a double to score three runs in the bottom of the sixth and it was 8-5.

Fridley and Shepherd were each 2-3 to lead the Lady Dragons.

First Game

Fairland 105 033 0 = 12 13 2

Chillicothe 210 010 0 = 4 9 3

Allison Shepherd and Mollie Morris. Hussey and Gallagher. W-Shepherd (K-5, BB-2). L-Hussey (K-5, BB-11). Hitting—FHS: Mollie Morris 1-2, Caitlin Stone 2-5 rbi-2, Ellen Hinshaw 1-4 rbi 2B, Maddy Kazee 2-5 rbi, Mackenzie Riley 1-3 rbi-2, Morgan Fridley 2-4 rbi-2, Allison Shepherd 1-4 rbi, Jessica Baise 1-1, Kortney Curry 1-1, Holly Ann Lunsford 1-1; CHS: Dawes 1-2, Bettendorf 1-4, Woodbridge 3-3 rbi-3 HR, Gallagher 1-4, Corztine 2-4, Beekman 1-4.

Second Game

Fairland 000 212 0 = 5 9 0

Ports. West 220 013 x = 8 10 2

Allison Shepherd and Mollie Morris. McKenzie Whittaker and Makayla White. W-Whittaker (K-7, BB-0). L-Shepherd (K-1, BB-2). Hitting—FHS: Mollie Morris 1-4, Ellen Hinshaw 1-4 rbi, Mackenzie Riley 1-4, Morgan Fridley 2-3 rbi-2, Olivia Adkins 1-3, Montanta Runnels 1-3; PW: Megan Shupert 3-4 rbi-3 HR, Cassidy Tackett 1-3 rbi, Terra Butcher 2-3, Daisy Holsinger 1-2 2B, Kayleigh Coleman 1-3 rbi-2 2B, Taylor Coleman 1-3.