Big defensive effort powers GHS to win

Thursday, April 21, 2011

The seventh inning of Wednesday's contest against Cascade was a test of character for Greencastle's softball team. Fortunately for the Tiger Cubs they passed with flying colors and notched their second win of the season by defeating Cascade 2-1.

"I am tremendously proud of the girls. We had a really good practice yesterday -- everybody worked their butts off to get ready for this game," GHS head coach Chasity Wood said. "We know that wasn't out team that showed up on Monday. We don't know who that was, but it wasn't our team and we're really proud we came out here and especially being the underdogs we were, they felt it and I think we surprised them a little."

Although the game took place at GHS, the Tiger Cubs were the visitors as the game was moved from Cascade due to field conditions. But one look at Greencastle's play left little doubt to whose field it was.

The Tiger Cubs took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Alex Basile smacked a double to left field to score Ellen Gobert and an infield out from Kayla Downing scored Basile. Greencastle was able to hold onto the lead with some big defensive plays.

Cascade scattered a few big hits throughout the early innings, but the Tiger Cubs stout defense hung tough and kept the Cadets off the board. But in the bottom of fifth inning that changed.

The inning started with a Morgan Estes ground out and then Hillary Tomblin was robbed of a hit when GHS shortstop Taylor Pruitt made a superb diving stop and gunned down Tomblin before she reached first. Greencastle's high was soon brought to a screeching halt.

Cascade catcher Brandyce Sallee stepped to the plate and sent a booming shot over the right-center field fence to put the Cadets on the board. With their lead cut to 2-1, Greencastle's biggest challenge was yet to come.

Greencastle held the Cadets scoreless in the sixth inning, but failed to score themselves and left the door open for a possible Cadet victory. In the bottom of the seventh inning Cascade came knocking and the Tiger Cubs had an answer.

Estes led off the final inning with a double, with Tomblin reaching after a bunt. Sallee reached on a walk to load the bases for Cascade with no outs and just two runs away from a win. Instead of giving up, the Tiger Cubs starting pitcher Kayla Downing forced the Cadets into three straight ground outs to end the game.

The Tiger Cubs received a lift from Basile who played in her first game of the season coming off an injury. Basile went 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI.

Greencastle will host Rockville today at 5 p.m.

At Greencastle

Greencastle 200 000 0 -- 2 8 2

Cascade 000 000 0 -- 0 5 0

WP -- Downing

LP -- Breedlove

HR -- Bra. Sallee (CAS)

2B -- Basile (GHS); Stephenson (CAS), Stein (CAS), Estes (CAS)

Next game -- Greencastle will host Rockville today at 5 p.m.