Lady Hornets beat Butler and Ohio counties, fall at Meade
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Hancock County scored three times in the first inning and went on to win 5-3 win over Butler County at Vastwood Park Tuesday.
“This was a good win against a solid team, and it’s nice to stay on a little winning streak heading toward the post season,” HCHS coach Dwayne Wroe said. “We got some timely hits early in the game.”
Butler County (24-7) plated one run in the first three innings before the Lady Hornet defense shut them down.
Hancock County (15-12) had it going early when Braley Roberts led off the home half of the first inning with a base hit. Ella Staples rapped a single and Roberts scored on a sacrifice by Hayley McFarling. The big blow came from Lily Roberts, who stroked a 2-run double to give HCHS a 3-1 advantage at that time.
The score was knotted at 3-3 when Ella House hit a 1-out single. Haley Wigginton gave Hancock County the lead for good when knocked home the run with a base hit. The Lady Hornets added another run in the fifth when Braley Roberts singled and scored on a hit by Staples.
Lily Roberts got the win while allowing three runs on nine hits, with nine Ks and one walk over seven complete innings.
Braley Roberts was 3 for 4 with a double and two runs scored, and Wigginton and Staples were both 2 for 3 with one RBI each. Lily Roberts was 1 for 3 with a double and two RBI, House was 1 for 3 and McFarling was 0 for 1 with one RBI. Brooke Toler scored a run.
Ohio County
Braley Roberts had four hits and Ella House clubbed a home run when the Lady Hornets won 7-1 over Ohio County at Vastwood Park Monday.
“We were able to score, but we’re still swinging at too many bad pitches. But it was good to get back on the winning track after a three game losing streak against some pretty good teams,” the coach said.
Both the Hancock County offense and defense was strong from the opening pitch.
Starting pitcher Hayley McFarling struck out two batters in the first frame and catcher Ella Staples threw out a runner attempting to steal second base.
Roberts started the offensive party when she doubled and scored in the home half of the first. Brooke Toler and Haley Wigginton scored in the second and the Lady Hornets led 3-0.
House took the second pitch and parked it over the fence in left field in the third inning. A 2-run shot that gave HCHS a 5-0 advantage.
McFarling began to struggle a bit with her control in the third inning, so coach Wroe brought in Lily Roberts. The freshman got out of trouble, allowing just one run to score before ending the inning with a strike out.
Hancock’s final two runs came in the fourth. Baylee Estes walked and stole second base before coming home on a hit by Braley Roberts, who later scored on a defensive error.
“We left the bases loaded in the fifth and sixth innings, so we had a chance to really bust it open. Until we get better at hitting good pitches we’re going to struggle to score runs,” Wroe said.
Roberts got the win on the mound. She allowed no runs on one hit, with six Ks and one walk over 4.2 innings. McFarling allowed one run on no hits, with five Ks and four walks in 2.1 innings.
Braley Roberts was 4 for 4 at the plate with a double and three RBI. House was 1 for 3 with the homer and two RBI, and Toler was 1 for 2. Kylie Westerfield was 1 for 3, and Lily Roberts was 1 for 4 with a double. Wigginton, Lauren Proctor and Estes all scored a run.
Meade County
Ella Staples hit a home run but Meade County won 4-1 over the Lady Hornets during a game at Brandenburg last Thursday.
Staples gave Hancock County a 1-0 lead when she belted a homer in the top of the first inning. That was about it offensively for the Lady Hornets until the seventh inning, when Westerfield and Lily Roberts both hit safely. The Lady Waves got out of trouble when their third baseman recorded the third out.
The Meade County offense plated runs in the second, third and fifth innings.
McFarling took the loss on the mound. She allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits, with two Ks and one walk over six innings. Mary Morgan was the winning pitcher.
Staples was 2 for 3 at the plate with the homer, and one RBI. Westerfield and Lily Roberts were both 1 for 3.
By Steve Wimmer