By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter, nbrockman@the-messenger.com
EDDYVILLE -- Rains threatened to wash away Monday's 2nd Region softball tournament, but fortunately for Hopkins County Central, the Lady Storm managed to soak in a win at Lee S. Jones Park.
Central (23-7) battled University Heights Academy (14-11) and overcame an 81-minute rain delay and a rain-aided, fifth-inning offensive burst from the Lady Blazers to hold on, 5-4.
"We didn't fold the whole tent, but we let a little bit of it come down," coach Jesse Huff said.
With a 5-0 lead, Lady Storm starting pitcher Ali Austin toed the rubber to begin the top of the fifth inning. University Heights recorded three straight singles with one out to plate a run. Then, the rains hit and appeared to have an adverse effect on the Central defense.
Kaytlyn Lewis scored UHA's second run on a wild pitch. Shayna Hudson hit a two-out RBI single to center to pull within two runs. Hudson quickly stole second, taking advantage of a potentially slick grip from the catcher.
Austin induced the batter, Hadley Burns, to hit a grounder to first, but it was no simple play. The ball pulled first baseman Alexis Curneal away from the bag. Neither Austin, nor second baseman Hannah Tow could get to first as Curneal's cleats appeared to adhere to the wet playing surface and Burns reached safely. Hudson scored from second on the play.
"Alexis made a good catch, but couldn't get moving," Huff said. "Everybody else was stuck too."
Central (23-7) battled University Heights Academy (14-11) and overcame an 81-minute rain delay and a rain-aided, fifth-inning offensive burst from the Lady Blazers to hold on, 5-4.
"We didn't fold the whole tent, but we let a little bit of it come down," coach Jesse Huff said.
With a 5-0 lead, Lady Storm starting pitcher Ali Austin toed the rubber to begin the top of the fifth inning. University Heights recorded three straight singles with one out to plate a run. Then, the rains hit and appeared to have an adverse effect on the Central defense.
Kaytlyn Lewis scored UHA's second run on a wild pitch. Shayna Hudson hit a two-out RBI single to center to pull within two runs. Hudson quickly stole second, taking advantage of a potentially slick grip from the catcher.
Austin induced the batter, Hadley Burns, to hit a grounder to first, but it was no simple play. The ball pulled first baseman Alexis Curneal away from the bag. Neither Austin, nor second baseman Hannah Tow could get to first as Curneal's cleats appeared to adhere to the wet playing surface and Burns reached safely. Hudson scored from second on the play.
"Alexis made a good catch, but couldn't get moving," Huff said. "Everybody else was stuck too."
Austin settled down to strike out the next batter and retired the last seven batters of the game she faced in a row. Once Austin escaped the top of the fifth, the rains stopped.
"She kept them down pretty good," Huff said of the sophomore pitcher. "She held her composure. She got beat up a little bit today in the top of the fifth, but she came back and shut them down, the next (seven) batters."
Like UHA, the Lady Storm did all of its offensive damage in a single inning. Central scored five times in the fourth inning as the team's first seven batters reached base. Curneal knocked in the game's first run on a RBI single to left field.
"We put the bat on the ball and put it in the gaps," Huff said. "Once you start making things happen, you can get some runs going.
"The big hit was Alexis getting it started after we got the first two on, just getting that first run across to break the ice. Once that happened, we were able to make a run."
Austin and MacKenzie Taylor each recorded RBI singles as well and Tow plated one on a fielder's choice. The game's ultimate winning run came on a fielding error following Taylor's run-scoring base hit.
Before Central even came to its first at-bat, rains played havoc on the game's rhythm. After Austin sent the Lady Blazers down 1-2-3 in the top of the first, a combination of rain, thunder and lightning prevented play for 81 minutes. When play resumed neither team mounted much of a scoring threat until the fourth.
Offensively, Curneal led Central with a 3-for-3 day with one RBI. Austin posted the team's other multi-hit day going 2-for-3 with one RBI.
On the mound, Austin tossed a complete game and struck out eight, four looking. She allowed six hits.
Central will advance to play 5:30 p.m. today against Henderson County(13-13) at Lee Jones Park. The Lady Colonels defeated Livingston Central 5-0 to advance. The two teams have not met this season.
UHA (14-11) 000 040 0 - 4 6 2
Central (23-7) 000 500 x - 5 8 0
WP: Ali Austin. LP: Jessica Harper.
"She kept them down pretty good," Huff said of the sophomore pitcher. "She held her composure. She got beat up a little bit today in the top of the fifth, but she came back and shut them down, the next (seven) batters."
Like UHA, the Lady Storm did all of its offensive damage in a single inning. Central scored five times in the fourth inning as the team's first seven batters reached base. Curneal knocked in the game's first run on a RBI single to left field.
"We put the bat on the ball and put it in the gaps," Huff said. "Once you start making things happen, you can get some runs going.
"The big hit was Alexis getting it started after we got the first two on, just getting that first run across to break the ice. Once that happened, we were able to make a run."
Austin and MacKenzie Taylor each recorded RBI singles as well and Tow plated one on a fielder's choice. The game's ultimate winning run came on a fielding error following Taylor's run-scoring base hit.
Before Central even came to its first at-bat, rains played havoc on the game's rhythm. After Austin sent the Lady Blazers down 1-2-3 in the top of the first, a combination of rain, thunder and lightning prevented play for 81 minutes. When play resumed neither team mounted much of a scoring threat until the fourth.
Offensively, Curneal led Central with a 3-for-3 day with one RBI. Austin posted the team's other multi-hit day going 2-for-3 with one RBI.
On the mound, Austin tossed a complete game and struck out eight, four looking. She allowed six hits.
Central will advance to play 5:30 p.m. today against Henderson County(13-13) at Lee Jones Park. The Lady Colonels defeated Livingston Central 5-0 to advance. The two teams have not met this season.
UHA (14-11) 000 040 0 - 4 6 2
Central (23-7) 000 500 x - 5 8 0
WP: Ali Austin. LP: Jessica Harper.
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