Greencastle rallies, falls in extra innings to Clay City; Clovers open season with win over Dugger Union

Just a couple of plays can make a difference in high school softball. That was never as evident as it was Monday night at Greencastle as Clay City’s Hannah Harris hit two home runs and the Tiger Cubs missed a couple of chances on the base paths as the Eels were able to take the victory 4-3 in eight innings.

The Cubs had their chances, as they outhit Clay City 10-7, but could not scratch out enough runs. The big hits by Harris were needed as Greencastle’s freshman Ali Hassler, making her first start, struck out 14 Eels in going the distance to keep the big Clay City bats quiet most of the evening.

“I can’t say enough about Ali. I could talk all night; she was great tonight. She was worn out and tired at the end,” Greencastle head coach Amy Coons said.

Clay City’s Roger Rhodes, subbing for head coach Jason Sinders, echoed that sentiment.

“We didn’t have our bats going tonight. We played pretty good defense, but (Hassler) threw pretty well,” Rhodes said.

Greencastle took the first lead of the game in the bottom of the first inning. Sidney Lantzy led off the game with an infield single and moved around the bases via a fielder’s choice and stolen base, finally scoring on a wild pitch to take the 1-0 lead.

The second and third innings saw both pitchers handcuff the opposing offenses. Clay City took advantage of a Tiger Cub fielding error as Faith Mitchell reached on the error and would score on a single by Abigale Shearer to knot the score at 1-all.

Harris provided the biggest blow of the game in the top of the fifth inning for Clay City. The junior catcher crushed a ball to left center, scoring Lexi Thompson and providing a 3-1 lead for the Eels.

“Our catcher carried us offensively tonight,” Rhodes said.

Greencastle clawed its way back into the game with a run in the sixth as Emma Hunter drew a walk would score on a Makenzie Epley single to narrow the gap to 3-2 heading into the seventh inning.

Greencastle loaded the bases with the first three batters. Allie Beaman singled, Hassler reached on an error and Olivia Richardville loaded the bases with a bunt single. Freshman Gracie Means, up to pinch hit, drove a single up the middle scoring Allie Beaman, but the second Cub runner was thrown out at the plate and the Cubs could not get the winning run across, but the score forced an eighth inning.

“We made some mistakes tonight, but the one was on me in sending her home,” Coons said of the Cubs having three players thrown out on the base paths on the night.

Clay City wasted little time as Harris led off the eighth inning with a shot almost in the same place to left center. Clay City would load the bases, but only get the one run by Harris as the Cubs went to the bottom of the inning down one run.

Unfortunately, despite three singles in the final inning, the Cubs failed to plate a run and Clay City would travel home with the 4-3 victory.

“(Greencastle) has really improved from the last couple of years. We really had fight to get this win,” Rhodes said.

Harris would lead the Eels offense going 2-of-4 with two home runs and three RBIs. Lantzy, Gloria Brewer and Beaman all had multi-hit games for the Cubs who, despite starting the season with a loss, impressed coach Coons.

“I am very competitive so it is not very often that I am happy after a loss, but I am really pleased with how the girls played tonight,” Coons said.

Clay City 000 120 01 — 4 7 2

Greencastle 100 001 10 — 3 10 1

WP – Sinders, LP – Hassler

HR – Harris (2)

Cloverdale 9, Dugger Union 7

Monday’s opener for the Clover softball team exploded into life in the third inning when the Bulldogs plated six runs in the top half of the inning and the hosts countered with four in the bottom half.

“It was a very good start of the season for us,” Cloverdale head coach Jamie Steffy said. “You could tell we were ready to play tonight.

“We had a very big crowd to play in front of and a lot of girls from our K-7 softball clinic came to watch the high school girls, which is important for our program.”

Dugger got to starter Callee Smith, using five hits and two walks to chase the freshman with a 5-0 lead with Hailey Caulkins allowing a run but getting a pair of strikeouts to end the threat.

After a pair of groundouts in the bottom of the inning, Cloverdale swung into action as hits from Erin Johnson and Keeli Price set up Pasley Meyerrose for a two-run single.

Andrea Nees plated another run with a fly ball that beat the defense while Dakota Allee made it 6-4 with a liner to right field.

“I thought we were a little too anxious and a little too aggressive early on, but once we settled down and got our hands, head and hips in the correct place we started hitting like we usually do in practice,” Steffy said about answering the runs in the third inning.

The Bulldogs added a run to the lead in the fifth but the Clovers got the run back in the bottom of the inning Price scored on a wild pitch that would have otherwise ended the inning.

Price turned provider in the sixth with a triple that plated Abi Welton and Johnson and Meyerrose landed the big blow with a two-run home run to give the hosts a 9-7 lead they would protect in the final inning.

“We got behind early because we were trying too hard and we were pressing,” Steffy said about the win. “We weren’t consistent enough in our offensive approach but we talk a lot about controlling what we can control: our attitude, our effort and our determination.

“Those three were a big reason why we were able to win tonight.”