The Bottom Line
By Bill Nestor
Sports Editor
Bridgeport, Liberty, and South Harrison earned Sectional titles and advanced their softball seasons this past week. A look back shows how it all went down.
Lincoln started the week off with a 15-0 win over Robert C. Byrd. Cougar pitcher, Hope Bray, tossed a one-hit shutout. Santana Creamer was 2 for 3 with a double; three runs batted in, and scored a pair of runs. Megan Earnest and Josie Payton collected two hits apiece while Karlie Murray drove in two runs and scored two runs in the win.
On Tuesday Bridgeport defeated Lincoln 14-6. The Indians erupted for seven runs in the sixth inning to break open a close affair.
Danielle Dennison went four innings and earned the win for the Tribe. Joplin Kehrer was 2 for 4 with a pair of doubles. Kehrer also drove in three runs and scored two more. Hannah Clark was 3 for 4 with four RBI’s and two runs scored. Taylor Smith was 2 for 5 (with a triple). Abby Straight was 2 for 3 with two RBI’s and two runs scored. Molly Lane collected a pair of hits in the victory.
The Cougars were led by Santana Creamer, Karlie Murray, and Josie Payton. The trio collected a pair of hits apiece.
Liberty upended Grafton 6 -2. Lexi Carder went the distance on the mound. Kaylee Ritter was 2 for 3 with a double (the games lone extra base hit) and two runs scored in the win.
On Wednesday the Cougars and South Harrison picked up big wins.
Lincoln defeated Robert C. Byrd 21-3. Hope Bray earned her second post season win going all the way on the hump. Bray was also 3 of 5 at the plate with a double and three runs scored. Megan Earnest and Alexis McKane both collected three hits. Santana Creamer was 2 for 3 with a home run and a game high four RBI’s. Emily Beck and Karlie Murray both had two hits in the win.
The Flying Eagles were paced by leadoff hitter Ashley Hawkins. Hawkins was 2 for 3 at the dish. South Harrison picked up a pair of wins to earn the sectional crown. The Hawks defeated Notre Dame 12-4 and 11-1.
The first was Tuesday evening when hurler Sydney Lipscomb allowed just one run. Molly Wheeler was 2 for 3 with a home run and two runs scored. Courtney Swenskie cracked a homer, drove in three runs and scored twice in the win.
The Fighting Irish were led by Ashley Mordan (3 for 3), Katie Shaffer (2 for 3), and Francesca Steele (2 for 3).
The next evening Lipscomb grabbed a second consecutive win. She also helped her own cause by going 2 for 3 with two RBI’s. Wheeler was 2 for 4 with four RBI’s and three runs scored. Jordan Miller also picked up a pair of hits for South Harrison.
On Thursday Bridgeport edged Lincoln 9-7. The sixth inning was once again a thorn in the Cougars’ side. It’s when they lost the lead to the Indians and they could not recover.
Dennison earned a second win in the post season for the Tribe. Straight recorded a huge home run while Clark and Kehrer had two hits apiece.
Lincoln was led by Bray’s 3 for 3 effort. Bray also scored a pair of runs.
Liberty blanked Grafton 10-0 to claim their title. Carder earned a second postseason win over the Bearcats. Daisy Gibbons was the only player in the game to record a multi-hit effort. She was 2 for 3 with two runs scored.
That will do it for now. Until next week…take care and God bless!
