Late Surge In Pitcher’s Duel Goes To Carrollton In Conference Battle

 

Playing in a game between the top two teams in the MRVC-East softball standings, the Holden softball team fell to the visiting Carrollton Lady Trojans by the final score of 6-1 on Thursday, Oct. 10.

The Holden softball team, which won the conference championship outright last year and shared the title with Carrollton two seasons ago, entered last week’s contest with an MRVC-East mark of 8-1, and an opportunity to claim a share of the conference title. The Lady Trojans held a league record of 9-0 that included a win over the Lady Eagles in late September.

In last Thursday’s match-up, Lady Eagle junior starting pitcher Jazzy Brown recorded nine strikeouts as she worked against Carrollton senior pitcher Jenna Edwards with both pitchers delivering complete game performances.

“Jazzy pitched a great game regardless of the score,” said Holden softball coach Jeff Smith. “She got out of multiple jams with big pitches. The biggest jam was with runners on second and third with nobody out, and she got out of the inning without giving up a run.”

Brown and Holden’s defense held the Lady Trojans off the scoreboard through five innings as Carrollton also kept the Lady Eagles in check through the same stretch for a knotted score entering the top of the sixth inning.

As a pitcher’s duel which limited hits between the teams emerged in the game, Lady Eagle catcher Haley Brooks assisted the Holden effort from behind the plate by putting Edwards out on a steal attempt of second base in the fourth inning. Holden shortstop Bobbie Diibon handled the tag for the out.

Carrollton threatened to untie the scoreless knot in the top of the fifth inning when back-to-back hits left runners on second and third with no outs. Lady Eagle third basemen Abby Sisk caught a pop up before Brown sat the next two batters down with strikeouts to end the threat.

With two out in the bottom of the fifth, Diibon singled. Designated player Bella Haggard put the ball in play behind Diibon to reach base on a Carrollton fielding error. Edwards ended the Holden opportunity with a strikeout to keep the game scoreless heading into the sixth.

Carrollton manufactured three runs in the top of the sixth inning off of a couple of hits, a walk, and a sacrifice fly to give the visitors some breathing room as Holden stranded Lilee Keller in the bottom of the sixth after Keller singled with one out.

Edwards would aid her own cause by hitting a home run with two base runners on in the top of the seventh.
Working from six runs down, Holden opened the bottom of the seventh inning with a single from Brooks who moved to second base on a ground out by left fielder Olivia Wooster.

Diibon followed Wooster with a ground ball that was mishandled by Carrollton. Brooks scored on Diibon’s hit as Diibon moved to second on the play. Strikeouts by Haggard and Macey Greene ended the last-inning rally attempt by Holden.

“This was a game that we really wanted to get a win,” said coach Smith. “Obviously, we wanted another conference championship, but it didn’t work out for us this year. They have an excellent team this year, and our bats just couldn’t get on the board.

“We took some really good at bats with Abby and Bobbie both hitting balls to the warning track that were caught,” noted coach Smith. “Bobbie had a great game both defensively and offensively. Haley also had a great game behind the plate stopping balls with runners on third, and a couple big hits. We just have to look past this one and get ready to step into some big district games this week in Cassville.”

Versus Carrollton at the plate, Brooks had a team-high 2 hits. Keller, Diibon, Haggard, and Greene each had 1 hit.
On the mound, Brown allowed 6 runs, 10 hits, and 1 walk while recording 9 strikeouts.

Lady Eagles Handle Richmond

Playing on the road, the Holden softball defeated MRVC-East opponent Richmond by the final score of 16-0 on Tuesday, Oct. 8.

The Lady Eagles totaled 11 hits as a team, and worked to a run-rule shortened ending by scoring eight runs in the first inning, two runs in the third, and six runs in the fourth.

“I was able to get some of the younger girls in early to contribute,” said coach Smith. “They all did great at the plate and in the field.”

Lady Eagle pitcher Olivia Wooster allowed just 1 hit while recording 9 strikeouts in the shutout win.

At the plate for Holden, Bella Haggard had a team-high 3 hits and 2 RBIs. Jillyan McHenry and Addi Wooster each had 1 hit and 2 RBIs. Lilee Keller, Haley Brooks, Olivia Wooster, and Macey Greene each had 1 hit and 1 RBI.

Jazzy Brown and Haley Waight each had 1 hit. Jenna McHenry had 1 RBI.

At the end of last week, the Holden softball team held an overall record of 16-11. The Lady Eagles end the MRVC-East season as conference runner-up with a mark of 8-2.

The Holden softball team as the No. 3 seed begins play in the Class 3, District 6 Tournament this week at Cassville High School. The Lady Eagles play in the first round of the district tournament this Thursday, Oct. 17. Holden takes on No. 6 seed Clinton at 3 p.m. in that first-round game. With a win on Thursday, Holden would play in the semifinals on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 1 p.m. against the winner of the first-round game between No. 2 seed Cassville and No. 7 seed Harrisonville. The district tournament championship game is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 21, at 5 p.m. All games are scheduled to be played at Cassville High School.