Ridgeway – Carroll County jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning but the offense struggled afterwards as the Lady Cavaliers (2-1) fell to Magna Vista Monday night.
Addie Greene and Laiken Burnett both laced doubles in their first at bat, with Burnett plating two with her shot just inside the third base bag to put the Cavaliers ahead 3-0. Burnett reached third base and Laynie-Jo Leonard walked and stole second base to put two more in scoring position before the Warriors recorded the final out.
Greene started in the circle and did a nice job limiting the home team early, allowing the score to stay in favor of the Cavaliers until the bottom of the fourth inning.
” We talked with the girls before the start of the game about the dimensions of the field,” said Head Coach Rick Nester. ” We pointed out that the fence in centerfield is much closer to home plate than it is back home.”
Magna Vista broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth with the key hit carrying just over the above mentioned fence. The 3-run Home Run took the score from 4-3 up to 7-3 and would turn out to be the final score.
Both teams finished the game with seven base hits but two of the Warriors base knocks left the park, counting for four of the seven runs.
” Both of our pitchers did a nice job tonight and our defense played better as well,” added Nester. ” The difference between winning and losing tonight was we hit line shots but they were right at their fielders, where they hit a few up in the air. Natalie Burress threw out a runner trying to steal early and that kept them from running more, then Brooke (Webb) and Laiken to cut down a runner at third base. We made plays tonight, just not enough of them.”
Burress finished the night with three hits, including a hustle double to lead off the third inning. The Sophomore was stranded on third base, one of five times the Cavaliers left a runner in scoring position.
Emma Harman pitched the final two inning for CCHS and held the Warriors in check. Harman also jump started the first inning with an one out single and scored the first run on a wild pitch.
Starting right fielder Madison Coleman was with the team but on crutches after spraining her ankle against Pulaski County. Leonard took her place in right field and Nester hopes to have her back at some point next week.
Back on The Hill, Alexis Dalton led the Junior Varsity to an exciting 13-12 victory over Magna Vista. The team now sits at 1-2 on the season.
The Lady Cavaliers were scheduled to host Galax High School on Wednesday but that game has been moved to next month. Bassett will now be the opponent for the long awaited home opener on Friday night.
The program will be celebrating the life and career of the Late Jeff Tobler after the Bassett game. The ceremony is set to begin approximately 15 minutes after the conclusion of the Varsity only game.
Carroll County…. 300 000 0 – 3 7 2
Magna Vista …… 101 500 X – 7 7 1
A.S.P.N on The Hill 