CHS softball comes back for win

Thursday, May 22, 2014

CLOVERDALE -- A slow start motivated the Putnam County champs to succeed Thursday when they took on West Vigo. They completed the come from behind victory, beating the Lady Vikings 8-3.

The Clovers (12-8, 3-7 WCC) started the game behind, when West Vigo notched a hit with its first batter at the plate. She was able to score. Then, after two scoreless innings where the Clovers just hit pop-flys, the Lady Vikings scored twice more in the first.

"They just can't seem to get started early," said Clover coach Brian Knapp. "They want to make a couple of little errors to get us started and behind. So then we have to get out of it."

The Clovers did come out of the slump. After freshman Lauren Meek got herself a hit in the fifth and freshman Payten Simpson followed her good outfield play with a big hit. They were both able to score in the fifth inning, as did senior Lindsay Robson making the score 3-3.

"Everyone was really cheerful until they got those three runs," said Simpson. "So after I caught those balls I was like 'well I want to hit it' and (Knapp) said to hit a line drive. So I hit a line drive and everybody hit after that."

That big hit by Simpson did seem to wake everybody up in the Cloverdale dugout, for after the good defense at the top of the sixth, Meek got another hit and freshman Skylar Price, who was running for the pitcher, made it to third on a passd ball. Then senior Megan Helterbrand made it to first on a hit and Robson again got on base. A passed ball advanced them and then Jessica Winders and Kelsey Helterbrand were able to get on base. All of the runners scored in the sixth making the winning margin 5 in the 8-3 victory.

"When they come out, they come out on fire," said Knapp. "It's not just one. Tonight we started (Simpson) because we had two varsity players that are injured. She got it all started at the plate. The played right field and caught everything that was hit to her. She did everything that was asked of her."

The breakout innings was exciting for the coach to see and was happy that the team didn't get down on itself being behind early.

"They're like a bunch of piranha," said Knapp. "When one of them eats, they all want to feed. So once they get started they get going. It's a combined effort.

Friday it will be senior night for the Clovers and they will be taking on Eminence and the Clovers know with the sectional match-ups drawing near, their play needs to be top notch.

"We're in all aspects right now" Knapp said. "With it being late in the season, you work in the small stuff. With that first inning it might be more fielding than hitting. We had a couple of mental errors that I'm not used to seeing. I had to go onto the mound and talk to them. After that they were lights out. They beat a good team tonight," Knapp said.


At Cloverdale

WV 100 200 0 -- 3 6

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