MINT HILL, NC – The Lady Patriots picked up three wins this past week and swept local rival Butler to propel themselves into Co-Champions of the Southwestern 4A Conference with an 11-1 record tied with Providence whos is 15-7 on the season. Overall, Indy had an outstanding season with a 17-5 win loss record as they prepare for the upcoming playoffs.
To begin the week Indy routed Butler 14-4 at home. The game was close for three innings with the Pats holding a 3-0 advantage. When the Lady Bulldogs scored a run in the top of the 4th inning, the home team countered with 3 runs of their own. In the 5th and 6th frames, Indy blew this game wide open scoring 8 runs as their offense is the strongest part on this ball club. This Indy line up is filled with good athletes who can flat out hit the softball with authority. Along with a solid defense, good pitching, aggressive baserunning, and good situational execution they can beat an opponent in many ways.
Sarah Johnson went 3-4 with 2 RBIs, Emma Wrenn 2-5 with 4 RBI’s, while Terris Adkins, Midori Walkup, Morgan Clark, and Natalie Johnson all had timely hits to drive in runs in key situations. Clark picked up another win tossing six innings, spreading around 5 hits, no walks, 4 strikeouts, and allowing just one earned run.
In the second game, a non-conference match up Indy defeated Cox Mill 21-10 in a blowout victory on the road. With the game 6-5 Indy holding a slim one run lead, the offense exploded scoring 15 runs in the final three innings of the softball game. Terris Adkins went 5-5 with 8 RBI’s slamming 3 doubles and 2 triples to lead the Patriot charge. While Elizabeth Garbark went 4-5 with 4 RBIs, Sarah Johnson 3-4, and Emma Wrenn 2-4 including 1 RBI. Morgan Clark received the win, and Garbark did a fine job in relief.
In the final game of the week, Indy travelled to Butler to take on the Bulldogs. Once again in a tight ballgame tied at 4-4, the Patriots offense exploded scoring 6 runs in the top of the fourth inning to take command. Wrenn led off with a base hit, Natalie Johnson followed with a single, Adkins doubled, Garbark singled, Clark singled, but the ball skipped past the right fielder as she rounded the bases, Olivia Baker doubled and eventually scored.
The Bulldogs scored 2 runs in the fifth frame, but Indy answered in the top of the sixth with two more runs of their own with the key hits coming from Sarah Johnson and Adkins both smacking doubles into the outfield gaps. Then added an insurance run in the seventh when Wrenn led off with a triple on a line drive into the gap in right center using her excellent speed with no hesitation sliding into third base ahead of the throw in a bowl of dust. The next batter Natalie Johnson followed with double scoring Wrenn from third base.
Wrenn went 3-4, Adkins 1-3 with 2 RBIs, Natalie Johnson 2-4, HR, 3 RBI’s, Sarah Johnson 1-4, 2 RBIs to lead the Patriots powerful offense. While Morgan Clark went the distance hurling 7 innings, allowing 5 earned runs, no walks, and struck out 5 Bulldogs on 117 pitches.
The Bulldogs stat leaders include Demya Brown 3-4, a home run, and 4 RBIs, MaKenna Thomas 3-4, Bella McDermott 2-4, 1 RBI, Ashlee Stringer 2-4, 1 RBI. Stringer also pitched a complete game allowing 6 earned runs, 11 hits, 3 walks, and had 5 strikeouts on 137 pitches.
This is a solid Independence softball team. It maybe the best all around team this writer has seen in the past 5 years with good depth. We look forward to the upcoming playoffs, as this ball club is clicking on all cylinders, they have the potential to go deep into the state tournament.
