Big week highlighted by Sparks’ 500th K; six RBI by Koons
A week of three games resulted in two big wins and a heartbreaking loss for the Switzerland County Lady Pacers varsity softball team.
Jac-Cen-Del
On Monday night, May 16th, the Lady Pacers powered their way past the Jac-Cen-Del Lady Eagles by a score of 17-0.
Switzerland County exploded for six runs in the first inning to put the game away early.
Jessie Duvall was hit by a pitch to open the inning and promptly stole second. She was followed by Maddie Duvall drawing a walk; and she stole second after Jessie advanced to third on a passed ball. Lily Sparks was then hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Bri Stow then picked up two big RBI with a single; and Nora Hankins drew a walk to again load the bases. Kayla Cutter then forced home a run with a walk; and Sarah Koons kicked off what was going to be a huge game at the plate with a double that drove in two runs.
The Lady Pacer offense went off again in the third inning, scoring eight more runs.
Cutter led off the inning with a walk, and Koons followed that with a double that scored Cutter. Gabby Abplanalp followed that with a single, and she stole second moments later; and with one out, Jessie Duvall and Maddie Duvall drew walks, Sparks was hit by a pitch for a second time; Stow reached on an error by the first baseman; and Hankins drew a walk.
Cutter then came to the plate for the second time in the inning, and she was hit by a pitch; and that brought Koons to the plate again, and then time she drove in two more runs with a single.
In the fourth inning Switzerland County scored two more runs before the game was stopped due to the Mercy Rule.
Maddie Duvall singled and advanced to second on an error by the rightfielder; and Sparks clubbed a single that plated Maddie.
Hankins drew a walk, Klayre Smith drew a walk, and Koons then picked up her sixth RBI of the game with a ground out to shortstop.
Sparks went the distance on the mound, striking out seven.
Rising Sun
It was an instant classic last Friday, May 13th, as Switzerland County and Rising Sun went nine innings before the Lady Shiners survived a wild ninth inning to claim a 6-5 win.
Switzerland County scored two runs in the third, as Jessie Duvall coaxed a walk and Lily Sparks singled; and both scored in the frame.
The Lady Pacers then posted two more runs in the top of the seventh, as Maddie Duvall doubled and Sparks reached on an error by the first baseman. Bri Stow then singled home the runners and the game went into extra innings tied at 4-4.
In the top of the ninth, Switzerland County got a go-ahead run with Maddie Duvall led off the inning with a double and Sparks singled her home.
Unfortunately, the Lady Paces couldn’t hold the lead, as Rising Sun scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to pick up the victory.
Oldenburg
Last Wednesday, May 11th, the Lady Pacers bested the Oldenburg Lady Twisters by a score of 16-0.
The game was highlighted by senior pitcher Lily Sparks, as she picked up her 500th career strikeout for her career.
Switzerland County scored a single run in the top of the first when Sparks drew a two out walk and Bri Stow was hit by a pitch. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch; and Nora Hankins also drew a walk.
Kayla Cutter then got hit by a pitch to drive in Sparks.
In the top of the second, Switzerland County scored six runs, as Macy Cook reached on a fielder’s choice after Sarah Koons led off the inning with a single. Jessie Duvall then picked up a single and an RBI as Cook scored; and Maddie Duvall followed that with a walk. Sparks then reached on an error by the centerfielder, and Stow drew a walk. Hankins then earned two RBI with a key single.
In the top of the third, Cook singled to lead off the frame, and Jessie Duvall singled. Maddie Duvall and Sparks then reached as each was hit by a pitch; and Stow added two more RBi with a single. Shayli Hite reached on a walk.
That moved the game to the fourth inning,where the Lady Pacers capped the game by scoring four more runs.
Maddie Duvall led off the inning when she reached on an error by the third baseman, and she then advanced to second on a passed ball. Sparks then drove her home with a single; and Stow followed that when she reached on an error by the second baseman. Hankins then reached on an error by the third baseman, and both Stow and Hankins came around to score, as Sarah Koons had a single.