Lady Trojans Rally From 9-0 Deficit To Beat Tippecanoe Valley
April 11, 2017 at 4:18 p.m.
Lady Trojans Rally From 9-0 Deficit To Beat Tippecanoe Valley
By Mark [email protected]
The Lady Vikings bolted to a 9-0 lead after three innings. Valley took advantage of three walks in the second inning to push across five runs on just three base hits. Mia Gunnels capped the rally with a two-run double to the left field corner.
After the third inning, people began to think the game would be a five-inning run-rule affair, but Triton had other ideas. The Lady Trojans got on the board in the fourth on Crystal Brown’s bloop double to left, driving in a pair of runs.
Triton then took the lead with a pair of four-run innings. Hannah Woodard belted a two-run homer just to the left of the flag pole in dead center to cut the lead to one in the sixth inning, then RBI singles by Kacie Pugh and Brown gave the home team the lead.
“The key was when we brought Whytnie Miller in to pitch (in relief of Woodard),” said Triton coach Steve McBride. “She kind of held things down for us after it was 9-0. Whytnie filled in that transition role for us tonight between Woodard and (Courtney) Jennings.
“It’s not that Woodard (the starting pitcher) threw badly; she just gave up a lot of hits. some nights are just like that.”
Another key play came in the top of the sixth with Valley looking to add to its 9-6 lead. The Lady Vikings had a runner on third and two outs when freshman Ally Betten hit a sinking liner to centerfield. Sophomore Taytum Hargrave made a diving catch to save the run and end the inning.
Hargrave also had three hits and scored twice in the comeback.
“She’s the best outfielder I’ve seen out here in the years I’ve coached. she can run, she can catch, she can throw and she’s a weapon offensively.”McBride said. “She’s got power; she’s the complete package, no matter how you say it.”
After surrendering its big lead, Valley fought back to tie the game in its half of the seventh. Gunnels led off with her second double of the game, and after a sacrifice bunt by Taylor Rogers, scored on a single by Alex Gomez.
Valley moved a runner to third with two outs in the eighth, but couldn’t push the go-ahead run across. Triton walked off with the win after loading the bases with no outs, and a sacrifice fly by Maci Irvine scored Nicole Sechrist.
While pleased offensively, Valley head coach Daryl Shoemaker said there’s plenty to accomplish at practice in the coming weeks.
“I told the girls that we’ve got a lot to work on,” Shoemaker said. “They’re young, It’s a really young and inexperienced team. It’s time to work and get better at little things.
“We’re happy with the way we hit. We scored in the first three inning and scored when we needed to late. I’m really satisfied with that side of it.”
Triton improved to 3-1 and opens Hoosier North Athletic Conference play at home against Knox today. Valley (0-2) plays at Winamac on Thursday.
TRITON 11
TIPPECANOE VALLEY 10 (8 Inn.)
TV 351 000 10 – 10 17 3
T 000 244 01 – 11 20 1
Valley – Sydney Howard (4.2IP, 10H, 6R, 2ER, 0BB, 4K), Kayla Scott (1 IP, 4H, 2R, 4ER, 1BB, 1K), Ally Betten (L, 1.2IP, 6H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 0K)
Triton – Hannah Woodard (2IP, 8H, 8R, 8ER, 3BB, 1K), Whytnie Miller (3IP, 4H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB. 2K), Courtney Jennings (W, 3IP, 5H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 0K)
2B – Mia Gunnels 2 (TV), Abby Betten (TV), Scott (TV), Alex Gomez (TV), Woodard (T), Crystal Brown 2 (T), Nichole Sechrist 2 (T).
HR – Woodard (T)
Records – Valley 0-2, Triton 3-1
E-Editions
The Lady Vikings bolted to a 9-0 lead after three innings. Valley took advantage of three walks in the second inning to push across five runs on just three base hits. Mia Gunnels capped the rally with a two-run double to the left field corner.
After the third inning, people began to think the game would be a five-inning run-rule affair, but Triton had other ideas. The Lady Trojans got on the board in the fourth on Crystal Brown’s bloop double to left, driving in a pair of runs.
Triton then took the lead with a pair of four-run innings. Hannah Woodard belted a two-run homer just to the left of the flag pole in dead center to cut the lead to one in the sixth inning, then RBI singles by Kacie Pugh and Brown gave the home team the lead.
“The key was when we brought Whytnie Miller in to pitch (in relief of Woodard),” said Triton coach Steve McBride. “She kind of held things down for us after it was 9-0. Whytnie filled in that transition role for us tonight between Woodard and (Courtney) Jennings.
“It’s not that Woodard (the starting pitcher) threw badly; she just gave up a lot of hits. some nights are just like that.”
Another key play came in the top of the sixth with Valley looking to add to its 9-6 lead. The Lady Vikings had a runner on third and two outs when freshman Ally Betten hit a sinking liner to centerfield. Sophomore Taytum Hargrave made a diving catch to save the run and end the inning.
Hargrave also had three hits and scored twice in the comeback.
“She’s the best outfielder I’ve seen out here in the years I’ve coached. she can run, she can catch, she can throw and she’s a weapon offensively.”McBride said. “She’s got power; she’s the complete package, no matter how you say it.”
After surrendering its big lead, Valley fought back to tie the game in its half of the seventh. Gunnels led off with her second double of the game, and after a sacrifice bunt by Taylor Rogers, scored on a single by Alex Gomez.
Valley moved a runner to third with two outs in the eighth, but couldn’t push the go-ahead run across. Triton walked off with the win after loading the bases with no outs, and a sacrifice fly by Maci Irvine scored Nicole Sechrist.
While pleased offensively, Valley head coach Daryl Shoemaker said there’s plenty to accomplish at practice in the coming weeks.
“I told the girls that we’ve got a lot to work on,” Shoemaker said. “They’re young, It’s a really young and inexperienced team. It’s time to work and get better at little things.
“We’re happy with the way we hit. We scored in the first three inning and scored when we needed to late. I’m really satisfied with that side of it.”
Triton improved to 3-1 and opens Hoosier North Athletic Conference play at home against Knox today. Valley (0-2) plays at Winamac on Thursday.
TRITON 11
TIPPECANOE VALLEY 10 (8 Inn.)
TV 351 000 10 – 10 17 3
T 000 244 01 – 11 20 1
Valley – Sydney Howard (4.2IP, 10H, 6R, 2ER, 0BB, 4K), Kayla Scott (1 IP, 4H, 2R, 4ER, 1BB, 1K), Ally Betten (L, 1.2IP, 6H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 0K)
Triton – Hannah Woodard (2IP, 8H, 8R, 8ER, 3BB, 1K), Whytnie Miller (3IP, 4H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB. 2K), Courtney Jennings (W, 3IP, 5H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 0K)
2B – Mia Gunnels 2 (TV), Abby Betten (TV), Scott (TV), Alex Gomez (TV), Woodard (T), Crystal Brown 2 (T), Nichole Sechrist 2 (T).
HR – Woodard (T)
Records – Valley 0-2, Triton 3-1
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