Head coach Steven Konkle believes that his Switzerland County Lady Pacer varsity softball team is beginning to mature and gain confidence as the season heads into the home stretch, and after winning 2-of-3 games during the past week, the offense is beginning to make some noise.
– Last Wednesday the Lady Pacers picked up a key conference win with a 13-2 victory over South Ripley.
Jenna Daugherty was 3-for-4 at the plate, and Coach Konkle said that she is making solid contact batting in the second spot in the lineup. She also scored two runs in the game, had an RBI, and stole a base.
Courtney Cole was 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored, and two RBI; Amber Smith was 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored, and two RBI; Megan McCarty was 2-for-4 with a triple, two runs scored, and one RBI; and Tanya Sefton was 1-for-2 with a triple, three runs scored and three RBI.
Morgan Ross was 1-for-2 with two runs scored and a stolen base; Maggie Armstrong was 1-for-3 with an RBI; Rachel Rodgers was 1-for-3 with a run scored; and Melisa Raisor scored a run.
On the mound, sophomore sensation Becky Turner picked up the win by allowing only four hits and one earned run while striking out six and walking just two in five innings before the game was called due to the 10-run rule.
– On Thursday night the Lady Pacers went out of conference but still played an important game, defeating North Decatur by a final score of 12-2. The Lady Chargers are in Switzerland County’s sectional.
Jenna Daugherty again stayed hot at the plate, going 3-for-3 in the game with three RBI.
Tanya Sefton was 1-for-2 at the plate with three runs scored; Melisa Raisor was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI; Rachel Rodgers was 1-for-3 with two runs scored; Courtney Cole was 1-for-3 with two RBI; Megan McCarty was 1-for-3 with two runs scored; and Morgan Ross was 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.
Hailee Smith scored a run and added a stolen base; and Emilee Waldron had an RBI and scored a run.
Becky Turner had another outstanding outing, pitching the five inning game and striking out three and scattering six hits and just one earned run.
– Switzerland County jumped out to an early lead on Monday night against conference foe Milan, but couldn’t hang on, falling by a final score of 16-12.
The game was a testament of courage and spirit for Lady Pacer pitcher Becky Turner, as she pitched on Monday with a heavy heart after losing her father, John Turner, to leukemia on Friday. His funeral was on Sunday, but the sophomore still took the mound on Monday night, hurling a tremendous game, striking out six while only nine of the runs were earned against an outstanding Milan squad.
“Becky just ran out of gas,” Coach Konkle said. “She was understandably fatigued after all that she went through with her father; and after battling back, we made some errors that cost us the game. Milan deserved to win. They are good hitters and solid defensively and are well coached.”
Morgan Ross was 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI; Rachel Rodgers was 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI; Maggie Armstrong was 2-for-3 with a run scored; Jenna Daugherty was 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI; Tanya Sefton was 1-for-2 with two runs scored; and Amber Smith was 1-for-4 with two runs scored.
Courtney Cole scored a run and also knocked one in; while Melisa Raisor scored two runs and had an RBI and Megan McCarty scored a run.