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Clovers drop 7-2 decision to Patriots
CLOVERDALE -- The Cloverdale softball squad dropped its contest with Owen Valley, 7-2, Wednesday night to run its record to 2-10 on the season.
Cloverdale started the night with a four-hit, one-run inning. Martika Byrd crushed a double to bring a run across the plate. However, the Clovers proceeded to go three up and three down in each of the next four innings, to leave them having to fight an uphill battle the final two.
"Tonight we took a step backwards from the way we played the last two or three games," CHS coach Greg Crum said.
Owen Valley scored in its first three innings, but saw one run tagged out at home plate by senior catcher Hannah Monnett in the third.
In the sixth inning, the Clovers put another run on the board as Whitney Bond, Chelsie Haltom and Kristin McCammon all reached base. Bond scored on a Monnett sac fly to left field.
The seventh started rough for the Clovers, as they had back-to-back outs, but Kate Chambers hit a single to left field and Bond drew a walk to put two on. But Haltom's hard drive up the middle was snagged by the pitcher, who threw her out to end the game.
Crum focused in on something he voiced concern about earlier in the season and saw as a main culprit in Wednesday's game.
"It was apparent there was a lack of intensity, a lack of emotion on our side -- whether we were at the plate or on defense," Crum commented. "It's just a failure to try to be competitive if there isn't some emotion."
The Clovers recorded six hits on the night, with two of those from Haltom. Kristin Schroer, Monnett, Byrd and McCammon all had one hit each.
"I think we have some kids starting to hit the ball pretty good. Monnett, Haltom and Byrd are all hitting the ball pretty hard almost every time at the plate," Crum said.
Owen Valley had some big hits, hitting four doubles on the night. Rebel Givens, Ella White, Lizzie Slough and Katie Lantz tallied the doubles.
Jennifer Wiley continues to become more comfortable on the mound. She threw for three strikeouts and allowed six walks and seven hits.
"I'm really happy with (Jennifer) Wiley," Crum said. "She's really improved over the course of the last half dozen games and if the team will get behind her, she's pitching well enough for us to be winning games.
"We just have to come together as a team now. Come out as one unit and play good hard softball," he said.
Cloverdale (2-10) will travel to Eminence to have a double header with the Eels Saturday at 10 a.m.
At Cloverdale
Owen Valley 112 003 0 -- 7 7 2
Cloverdale 100 001 0 -- 2 6 4
Terrell and Lantz (OV); Wiley and Monnett (CHS)
WP -- Terrell
LP -- Wiley
2B -- Byrd (CHS); Givens, White, Slough, Lantz (OV)
Next game -- Cloverdale will travel to Eminence to have a double header will the Eels Saturday at 10 a.m.