Clovers, Eagles out; Cougars, Tiger Cubs advance in softball

Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Cloverdale's Tori Combs slides into second base, easily beating the throw. Cascade's Alexis Gross waits helplessly for the ball to arrive.

CLINTON -- If "do-overs" were allowed in high school softball sectionals, like in playground baseball games of days long gone by, Cloverdale could have pulled off a huge upset on Monday in the opening game of the South Vermillion softball sectional.

The Clovers committed errors on the first three plays of the game, leading to a 3-0 deficit after just four batters.

The Clovers hung tough, and didn't take advantage of many potential scoring opportunities in dropping a 4-3 decision to tourney favorite Cascade.

"I thought faster the first four batters of the first inning, we controlled the game," Cloverdale coach Jim Spencer said.

"Unfortunately, we gave up three runs on three errors and one good hit and we were down 3-0. From that point on, we did a really good job of trying to come back, we just couldn't get the run across."

Cascade opened the top of the first with a hit that glanced off a fielder's glove, then pushed a bunt next to the mound that was misplayed. The third batter hit a grounder to a drawn-in infield, but the throw home was errant and one run scored.

Alexis Gross followed with a single to bring home two more, and the Cadets were in control.

Cloverdale pitcher Lauren Meek started getting better support, and scattered four hits over the remainder of the game.

Cascade added a fourth run in the top of the fourth as Makayla Collier walked, stole second and scored on a double by Casey Bell.

Bell was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a triple, and the Cadets were done scoring for the evening.

Cloverdale was just getting started, as Kiley Shedron opened the bottom of the fourth with a single off hard-throwing Cascade pitcher Alisha Burch.

One out later, Skylar Price singled and went to second as Shedron advanced to third.

Hannah Long then hit a double to left center to score both runners, and later advanced to third on a passed ball.

One out later, Meek swung and missed at a ball in the dirt but the pitch got past the catcher and Long scored as Meek was safe at first.

The Clovers seemed like they were going to score in the third, getting the eighth and ninth hitters in the order on with nobody out. The top of the order could move them no further, however.

The Clovers went down in order in the fifth following their big outburst, and Makenzie Westell led off the sixth with a double but could also advance no farther.

Kelsey Helterbrand walked with one out to open the bottom of the seventh, and Kristen Southwood followed with a bunt single.

Both runners were left stranded, though, and the champions of the Western Indiana Conference escape with a one-run win.

"I was really pleased in the later innings that we had the tying and go-ahead run in scoring position, even though we couldn't get them across," Spencer added. "We did a really good job of getting them there against a really good pitcher. We gave ourselves the opportunity to win."

The Clovers finished the season with a record of 11-7-1, and will lose only one senior to graduation -- although it's a really important one in senior first baseman Kim Winders.

"We have to keep getting better at every positon in all aspects of the game," Spencer said. "Kim was a really strong senior who led us in hitting, home runs, RBI and on-base percentage. Her spot is going to be a hard hole to fill, but we just have to work on getting better."

Cascade 300 100 0 -- 4 7 3
Cloverdale 000 300 0 -- 3 5 4

WP -- Burch. LP -- Meek.

North Putnam 17, South Putnam 6 -- At Clinton on Tuesday, the Cougars ripped out 13 hits in recording the sectional victory.

Mia Runnells had a double and two singles to pace the Cougars at the plate, while Chloe LaPierre had two doubles, Sierra Spencer had a double and a single and Skylar Clifford and Kaleigh Storm each had two singles.

Runnells and Spencer each had three RBI, while Clifford, Storm and Faythe Schultz each drove in two runs.

LaPierre was the winning pitcher, striking out six batters.

The game featured 14 errors, eight by South Putnam.

Katie Hewitt had two doubles and Drew Bratcher a double for the Eagles.

The Cougars will meet Southmont in the sectional semifinal at 7 p.m. Thursday. The Mounties topped Monrovia 9-2 on Tuesday.

North Putnam551 42 -- 17 13 6
South Putnam102 03 -- 6 5 8

WP -- LaPierre. LP -- Perry.

Greencastle 9, Indian Creek 8 -- At Trafalgar on Tuesday, Greencastle erased an 8-3 seventh-inning deficit for an unlikely 9-8 win over host Indian Creek.

The Tiger Cubs will battle Danville for the sectional title at 6 p.m. Thursday.

The Warriors defeated Indianapolis Washington 22-0 on Tuesday.

Indian Creek011 301 2 -- 8
Greencastle100 200 6 -- 9
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