Explosive 6th inning propels Lady Pirates to 10-4 victory in back and forth game against visiting Ridgewood

Normally early in the softball season the weather doesn’t cooperate much but the Lady Pirates have been blessed with some beautiful weather for their first three games. The warmer than normal temps and sunshine has made for some great early games of the season.

Jocelyn Troyer got her second straight start in the circle and started the game with a lead-off walk of Harding who then stole second base. Harding advance to third on a ground out to Emma Gee at second. Ridgewood followed that with a pop out to Troyer in the circle followed by a ground out to Mya Gee at third to leave Harding stranded at third and no runs in the inning.

Zoe Johnson led off the game with a fly ball that dropped in front of the left fielder. After strike-out, Troyer laid down a sac bunt to move Johnson into scoring position. Cassy Donaldson came to the plate and delivered a ground ball single that scored Johnson from second giving the Lady Pirates and early 1-0 lead. The inning ended on a deep fly ball by Sarah Billman that was caught at the fence by Harris in centerfield.

Troyer got the second inning started with a strike-out on a beautiful change up that floated through the strike zone freezing Wilson in her cleats as she watched the ball for strike three. Green stepped to the plate to deliver a single for Ridgewood only to be thrown out by Donaldson as she attempted to steal second for out number two. With an 2-0 count Alexander blasted a home run over the centerfield fence on a ball that caught a little too much of the plate to tie the game at one each. The Lady Pirates got out of the inning with a ground out.

The bottom half of the second was a quick one for Garaway. The at bat started with a pop out followed by a single by Emma Gee. Ridgewood would turn a nice double play to end the inning keeping the score locked at one.

Ridgewood would take the lead in the top half of the third. Following a lead-off ground out, Harding comes in and smacks a double into left centerfield. Zinkon followed the double with single scoring Harding from second. After a walk, Troyer struck out the next batter Green leaving two Lady Generals stranded in scoring position.

Garaway started the bottom of the third with Meghan Petitte reaching first on an error and was followed by a nice bunt by Johnson giving the Lady Pirates base runners on first and second. Chelsi Rothacher comes in and hits a screamer back to Zinkon in the circle who caught the ball and doubled up Johnson at first before she could get back to the bag. The inning ended with a pop out and Ridgewood holding onto their one run lead.

Alexander started the next inning with a single. Donaldson made another good throw down to second to catch Alexander attempting to steal second for Donaldson’s second throw out on attempted steals. Ridgewood ended the top half of the fourth with back to back ground outs.

The Lady Pirates score two in the fourth to reclaim the lead at 3-2. Donaldson started the inning with a single. Tori Miller comes in as a courtesy for Donaldson. Billman steps to the plate and smacks a fly ball that clears the fence this time for her first home run of the season. Garaway was looking to open the game up as they loaded the bases after the Billman homerun. With bases loaded Zinkon landed herself a strike out. Johnson followed that with a fly ball hit to deep left field that was caught. Mya Gee tagged up and appeared to score on the play. After an appeal by Ridgewood the umpire determined that Gee left a little early and was called out and Ridgewood escaped what was shaping up to be a big inning for the Lady Pirates.

Ridgewood started the fifth inning with a homerun by Harding to tie the score back up. After a strike out and fly out Harris drew a walk and was hit home on a double by Wilson as the Generals reclaimed the lead at 4-3 with two outs. The lady pirates stopped the bleeding with a ground out.

In this back and forth game the Lady Pirates again took the lead from Ridgewood in the bottom of the fifth inning. After a lead-off strike out, Troyer draws a walk that was followed by a Donaldson homerun putting Garaway back on top 5-4. Zinkon ended the inning for the Lady Pirates by forcing back to back ground outs.

Garaway picked up their energy on the defensive side as they sat down all three batters that came to the plate in the top of the sixth inning. The Lady Pirates took that momentum to the plate in the bottom half as they opened the game up. Emma Gee started things off with a single. Petitte followed that by reaching first on an error and advancing Gee to second. After a Johnson fly ball out the rally started as Garaway rolled off five additional runs with two outs. Rothacher hit a blooper over the first baseman’s head that landed just fair scoring Gee and advancing Petitte to third. With a hit and run called Troyer hits a double scoring Petitte and Rothacher all the way from first to extend the lead to 8-4. The Lady Pirates were not done there as Donaldson drew a walk and was followed by a double by Billman. The double scored both Troyer and Miller who came in as a courtesy runner for Donaldson. The inning ended on a ground out and a 10-5 lead. Ridgewood was unable to get any going in the seventh as Garaway ended the game with the victory.

The win improves the Lady Pirates to 2-1 on the season and a 2-0 record in the tough IVC South Division. The Lady Pirates are back in action Thursday even back up on the hill in Sugarcreek as TCC makes their trip out to Sugarcreek. First pitch is scheduled for 5 P.M.