LANCASTER -Alexander coach Dave McLaughlin credited his team’s ability to adjust to New Lex pitcher Bailey Harris.
“She did an awesome job hitting the outside corner,” he said.
Despite the late struggles, Harris kept the Panthers close early. After giving up a run in the first, she
retired six of the next seven batters and escaped a jam in the fourth.
The Spartans had runners at second and third with no outs in the
frame, but a lineout to center field was turned into a double play,
then a groundout ended the threat.
Trailing 6-0 in the bottom of the sixth, New Lex tried to rally. Lexi
Ellis and Morgan Brown both singled to lead off the inning. After a
strikeout, Robinson hit a groundball to the shortstop.
The Panthers scored twice in the seventh thanks to an error and a
groundout. Rainbow Ratliff had a single and Miranda Ward doubled in the
seventh to set the table.
“We had a chance to score (in the sixth). You could argue
the interference, but it took the wind out of our sails,” New Lex coach
Dave Ratliff said. “But our girls didn’t give up, and I was proud of
them.”
Harris had eight
strikeouts and three walks in the loss for the Panthers, who committed
six errors. The sophomore pitcher headlines a lineup that returns eight
of nine starters from Wednesday’s game.
Brittany Danielson, Destyn Beard and Alison Dickerson were the only seniors on the roster.
“It came down to leadership and unselfishness,” Ratliff said. “Every
person wanted to play every game, but this group was unselfish. It’s
truly amazing to be coaching them, and I want to thank the staff and
board of education for giving us this chance.”