Greencastle softball suffers tough loss at Mooresville

Thursday, May 1, 2014
Grace Paul throws to first base after fielding a grounder in the Wednesday game at Moorseville. The Tiger Cubs' next game is against North Montgomery at 5 p.m. (Banner Graphic/TRENT SCOTT)

MOORESVILLE -- Rain preceded an outpouring of runs at Mooresville's North Madison Elementary School softball diamond Wednesday night and, at first, Greencastle was the beneficiary of the conditions.

The Pioneers replied in kind and quickly were out of sight, winning 12-2 in five innings.

"We just didn't play very well," Tiger Cub coach Dave Keller said. "We didn't get hits, didn't play defense and when you play against a great team like that, they'll beat you like they did to us tonight.

"This was going to be a tough game for us and I think the weather took something out of us. There's no disrespect to (Mooresville). They hit the ball in the same conditions we did."

Courtney Adams began the game by reaching base on an error and came in on Kenlee Johnson's double. Johnson scored later in the inning to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.

From that point, however, the game was dominated by Mooresville.

The hosts sent 11 batters to the plate in the bottom of the first, scoring six runs to take a lead that would not be under threat for the remainder of the game.

As the weather began to subside, both sides began to settle into proceedings.

Greencastle found hits very difficult to come by, only recording two hits in the next four innings.

Without being able to put pressure on the Mooresville defense, Keller said the squad had to rely on the Pioneers to help them out when the home side batted.

"We were flat tonight and they hit the life out of the ball," Keller said. "If you don't hit and don't play defense, you're going to get beat by good teams and they are a good team.

"They did hit a lot of balls right at us. We didn't make any spectacular plays on defense, so that's how we got a lot of outs tonight."

After scoring a run in the third, Mooresville added four more runs in the fourth and had a chance to finish the game but failed to push across the final run with the bases loaded.

That would not be a problem in the following inning as the hosts pushed across another run to finish the contest.

Keller, though disappointed by the result, said that the squad would need to utilize the outcome for events further down the road.

"We're not looking at this game," Keller said. "We're looking at the end of May. That's what we've been talking about for a week now and that's where are focus is.

"We have a very good opportunity to win the sectional. We didn't play like it tonight, but our sectional is very winnable for us if we come out and play ball. We'll take lessons away from this ballgame."

Greencastle returns to action on Saturday with a doubleheader at home against North Montgomery and Keller said that he expected the squad to be ready to play again.

"We'll regroup and come back Saturday. I'm looking for the team to come back a little more hungry."


At North Madison Elementary, Mooresville

Greencastle 200 00 -- 2 3 5

Mooresville 601 41 -- 12 16 1

WP -- Stevens

LP -- Hensley

HR -- Stevens (M)

2B -- Johnson (G); Masters, Chitwood, Brock (M)

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