Lady Eagles Win In Extras Against Chicks

 

The Lady Eagles softball team emerged on top after two extra innings of play against Pleasant Hill in a road win for Holden by the final score of 9-6 on Thursday, Sept. 5.

The Lady Eagles team effort which included contributions from every Holden player who entered the game was highlighted by a two-hit, four-RBI performance from senior second baseman Lilli Bay, and a complete game outing from junior starting pitcher Olivia Wooster.

“We definitely needed this type of game and to come out on top to hopefully get us back on track as a team,” said Holden softball coach Jeff Smith of the win that came two days after a loss to Oak Grove. “We had been struggling with playing as a team and winning as a team. We seemed to be more focused on individual performances the previous six games until the end of this game. This game was good for us to overcome under pressure and be forced to perform. We saw some players that haven’t had many opportunities to perform this season step up in the biggest situations and perform. I couldn’t be more proud of how each of our players came together and performed as a team to get this win.”

Pleasant Hill scored first by plating two runs in the bottom of the first inning.

Holden responded in the third inning when shortstop Addy Campbell drove in freshman catcher Bella Haggard who had reached base on a ground ball with one out in the third. A stolen base by Haggard and a ground out by Jazzy Brown left Haggard on third base to set the table for Campbell as she delivered Holden’s first run of the game.

Wooster held Pleasant Hill scoreless in the second and third innings as the Lady Eagles defense made timely plays behind her in the field throughout the game.

Bay would knot the score at 2-2 for the first tie of the game when she tripled in the top of the fourth to score Wooster. Haggard followed Bay with a single to plate Bay, and to give Holden a one-run lead with the score at 3-2.

After the Chicks scored one run to again tie the score in the bottom of the fourth, Holden regained the lead in the top of the fifth on an Abby Sisk single that scored Campbell.

Pleasant Hill knotted the score once more in the bottom of the fifth inning with a lone run plated in the frame, and would take a 6-4 lead by scoring two runs in the sixth.

With the game on the line in Holden’s final half of the seventh inning, senior first baseman Lilee Keller singled to lead off the top of the seventh. Sisk singled behind Keller to put two runners on. Addi Wooster laid down a bunt and would reach base safely while moving Keller and Sisk to third and second. Two batters later, Olivia Wooster plated Keller on a ground out.

With Sisk perched at third base and Addi Wooster at second, Bay singled to score Sisk, and tie the game at 6-6. Addi Wooster would be called out trying to reach home on Bay’s hit for Holden’s final out of the seventh inning.

Following a scoreless eighth inning, Holden began chipping away at the Chicks in the top of the ninth when Addi Wooster reached on a ground ball to lead off the inning. Right fielder Haley Brooks followed Wooster by reaching safely on a bunt.

Continuing with the small ball approach, Olivia Wooster reached safely on a bunt attempt behind Brooks to put three runners on.
Bay recorded her third and fourth RBIs of the game on a ground ball that scored Brooks and Addi Wooster for what would be the game-winning runs. Olivia Wooster would score the final run of the game on a ground out by Brown. Campbell grounded out behind Brown, but the Lady Eagles had gained a 9-6 advantage.

Olivia Wooster coaxed a pop out to start the bottom of the ninth before a lone hit on a single from Pleasant Hill in the frame. The game ended with a ground out, and a final pop out by Pleasant Hill to give Wooster the complete game victory.
“I’m very proud of Lilli Bay for the way she hit,” said coach Smith. “I haven’t given her many opportunities this season, and nearly every time she came to the plate, she performed. The biggest was the hit to tie the game with two outs in the seventh.
“Olivia Wooster also had a great game in the circle,” continued coach Smith. “She had a rough first inning, but improved throughout the game and kept the game tied without giving up a run in the last three innings. Everyone contributed in some way with hits, runs scored, big defensive plays and bunts. I was also pleased to see how our bunt game and speed played out in the ninth to give us the three-run lead.”

Bay finished the game with 2 hits and 4 RBIs. Campbell totaled 3 hits, 1 RBI, and 2 stolen bases. Haggard had 2 hits, 1 RBI, and 1 stolen base. Sisk had 2 hits, and 1 RBI. Brown had 1 hit, and 1 RBI. Brooks totaled 3 hits, and Keller had 2 hits. Olivia Wooster had 1 RBI, and scored 2 runs. Addi Wooster scored 1 run. Ady Yoder entered the game as a courtesy runner once for Sisk. On defense, left fielder Macey Greene and right fielder Brooks each made hit-saving diving catches while center fielder Brown made a running catch at the fence during the game.

In the start on the mound, Olivia Wooster went the complete game. In nine innings Wooster allowed 6 runs (5ER) on 13 hits while striking out 4 batters and giving up no walks.

Holden Falls
To Oak Grove

The Lady Eagles fell at home to the Lady Panthers of Oak Grove by the final score of 6-3 on Tuesday, Sept. 3.
Oak Grove scored three runs in the top of the sixth to take the final lead in the game.

“In my opinion, we beat them in nearly every category for six innings,” said coach Smith. “We just have to be able to hold it together for seven. Jazzy pitched a great game and held a very good Oak Grove lineup to minimal runs. I was very pleased to see her get back to her dominant self.

“Addy Campbell also had a huge game at the plate with three hits and two ground rule doubles, scoring two of our three runs. There were many opportunities to score more than three runs, but we didn’t take advantage.”

At the end of last week, the Holden softball team held an overall record of 3-4, with no conference games played to date.
The Holden softball team travels to Lexington for a conference varsity game this Thursday, Sept. 12. Game time is 5 p.m.
The Holden softball team plays in the Chillicothe Tournament at Chillicothe High School this Saturday, Sept. 14.