Whitko Comeback Falls Just Short As Tippy Valley Wins 6-4
May 3, 2023 at 11:58 p.m.
Whitko Comeback Falls Just Short As Tippy Valley Wins 6-4
By Connor McCann-
The Lady Vikings wasted no time getting down to business. The Valley hitters made it an objective to make Whitko starting pitcher Addie Garr work for every out, a plan that worked to perfection. Senior Corinna Stiles, the other starter, began the game with a double on the ninth pitch of her at bat. She’d score a couple batters later on a wild pitch to Molly Moriarty.
After a walk to Madi Smith, Mackaylie Costello would hit the Lady Vikings’ second double in the inning to drive in the team’s second run. Costello would eventually score on a wild pitch before Garr was able to end the inning on her second strikeout of the frame.
The Lady ‘Cats threatened to get on the board themselves in the bottom of the first, with Garr and Hope Bradley each notching a one-out single. However, Stiles was able to maneuver out of further trouble, getting a pair of groundouts to end the first with runners on second and third.
Both starters began to get into a groove in the second, combining for five strikeouts. Garr would strike out the side in the top half of the inning, while Stiles would strike out the first two in the bottom.
Tippy Valley was able to extend its lead in the top of the third, thanks to a leadoff double from Moriarty. The senior second baseman would steal third base before scoring on a wild pitch not long after. That would be the extent of the scoring however, as Garr would add two more punch outs to end the inning.
Now trailing by four, Whitko began to come back in the bottom of the third. With Maddie Cripe and Cassidy Skinner getting on base to start the inning, Garr would step up to the plate with the opportunity to help herself out. She would do so, hitting a deep line drive that missed out on going over the fence by about a foot to drive in a run. Garr would come around to score on a wild pitch a few batters later, and just like that, the Valley lead had been cut to one.
It would stay that way until the top of the fifth. Moriarty, leading off the inning, smashed a 3-2 pitch up and over the left-center field fence for a solo home run. The scoring would not stop there, as Brittney Benn laced an opposite-field single to drive in Costello, who reached on a fielder’s choice. Stiles would head back to the mound with a three-run lead to protect.
Valley remained in front at the end of the fifth, though the lead had been cut to two on an RBI single from Whitko’s Kaylee Atkins, who drove in Garr after the starting pitcher reached base for the third time in as many tries after being hit by a pitch.
Garr’s day on the mound would not continue into the sixth, as Skinner replaced her on the mound. It was a solid day for the sophomore, who struck out eight in five innings, allowing six runs on seven hits.
Skinner did her job in the top of the sixth, allowing just one baserunner on an error while picking up two strikeouts. Stiles, still on the mound for Valley, worked around an error of her own with two outs to keep the frame scoreless and most importantly, keep her team in front going into the final inning of the game.
After Skinner continued her stellar relief outing by going 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh, it fell on the Lady ‘Cat bats to pick up the two runs needed to extend the game. The team would bring the winning run to the plate in the form of Hope Bradley after Garr singled to get on base for the fourth time in the game. Bradley would ground out to second for the second out of the inning while Garr, running from first, tried to get to third on the play. However, the Lady Vikings would be ready, and would throw Garr out to end the ball game.
Stiles got the win on the mound, striking out seven in seven innings of work while giving up four runs on four hits.
Tippecanoe Valley returns to action at North Miami Thursday night, while Whitko plays its next game Friday at home against Oak Hill.
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The Lady Vikings wasted no time getting down to business. The Valley hitters made it an objective to make Whitko starting pitcher Addie Garr work for every out, a plan that worked to perfection. Senior Corinna Stiles, the other starter, began the game with a double on the ninth pitch of her at bat. She’d score a couple batters later on a wild pitch to Molly Moriarty.
After a walk to Madi Smith, Mackaylie Costello would hit the Lady Vikings’ second double in the inning to drive in the team’s second run. Costello would eventually score on a wild pitch before Garr was able to end the inning on her second strikeout of the frame.
The Lady ‘Cats threatened to get on the board themselves in the bottom of the first, with Garr and Hope Bradley each notching a one-out single. However, Stiles was able to maneuver out of further trouble, getting a pair of groundouts to end the first with runners on second and third.
Both starters began to get into a groove in the second, combining for five strikeouts. Garr would strike out the side in the top half of the inning, while Stiles would strike out the first two in the bottom.
Tippy Valley was able to extend its lead in the top of the third, thanks to a leadoff double from Moriarty. The senior second baseman would steal third base before scoring on a wild pitch not long after. That would be the extent of the scoring however, as Garr would add two more punch outs to end the inning.
Now trailing by four, Whitko began to come back in the bottom of the third. With Maddie Cripe and Cassidy Skinner getting on base to start the inning, Garr would step up to the plate with the opportunity to help herself out. She would do so, hitting a deep line drive that missed out on going over the fence by about a foot to drive in a run. Garr would come around to score on a wild pitch a few batters later, and just like that, the Valley lead had been cut to one.
It would stay that way until the top of the fifth. Moriarty, leading off the inning, smashed a 3-2 pitch up and over the left-center field fence for a solo home run. The scoring would not stop there, as Brittney Benn laced an opposite-field single to drive in Costello, who reached on a fielder’s choice. Stiles would head back to the mound with a three-run lead to protect.
Valley remained in front at the end of the fifth, though the lead had been cut to two on an RBI single from Whitko’s Kaylee Atkins, who drove in Garr after the starting pitcher reached base for the third time in as many tries after being hit by a pitch.
Garr’s day on the mound would not continue into the sixth, as Skinner replaced her on the mound. It was a solid day for the sophomore, who struck out eight in five innings, allowing six runs on seven hits.
Skinner did her job in the top of the sixth, allowing just one baserunner on an error while picking up two strikeouts. Stiles, still on the mound for Valley, worked around an error of her own with two outs to keep the frame scoreless and most importantly, keep her team in front going into the final inning of the game.
After Skinner continued her stellar relief outing by going 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh, it fell on the Lady ‘Cat bats to pick up the two runs needed to extend the game. The team would bring the winning run to the plate in the form of Hope Bradley after Garr singled to get on base for the fourth time in the game. Bradley would ground out to second for the second out of the inning while Garr, running from first, tried to get to third on the play. However, the Lady Vikings would be ready, and would throw Garr out to end the ball game.
Stiles got the win on the mound, striking out seven in seven innings of work while giving up four runs on four hits.
Tippecanoe Valley returns to action at North Miami Thursday night, while Whitko plays its next game Friday at home against Oak Hill.
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