The Lady Patriots softball team appears to be on their way to another solid season under head coach Amanda Larry. The ladies are 7-2 overall, and 6-0 in the Southwestern 4A Conference.
The big win this week was over rival Butler High School with a 7-0 shutout victory on a cool evening on the road. The Patriots scored in the first inning with 2 runs, with the bases loaded senior Anna Easter ripped a double for 2 RBI’s.
In the second inning, Independence tallied 4 more runs on five hits to take a commanding 6-0 lead after just two frames. They proceeded to pad their lead in the sixth when sophomore Maya Douglas doubled putting runners on second and third, with two outs Brianna Grant grounded a single up the middle for the additional insurance run.
The Patriots smacked 14 hits in the contest and senior hurler Kayla Douglas pitched a nifty 2 hitter while giving up 5 bases on balls in the 93 pitch outing going the distance.
Anna Easter went 3-4 with 3 RBI’s, Brianna Grant 3-4 with 2 RBI’s, Maya Douglas 3-4, double, and Mallory Shaver 2-4 with 2 RBI’s.
Patriots – 2 4 0 0 0 1 0 – 7 14 1
Bulldogs – 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 0 2 2
During the week Independence pounced on two of the weaker teams in the Conference by dominating both Garinger and Rocky River on the diamond.
In the Patriots 21-0 victory, they scored 21 runs in just three innings while banging out 20 hits over the Wildcats. Kayla Douglas pitched three shutout innings, she allowed only one baserunner with a walk, struck out 6 batters, and giving up no hits on just 41 pitches.
Emily Shaver went 3-4 with an RBI, and a triple, Mallory Shaver 3-3 with 2 RBI’s and a double, Anna Easter 2-3, 1 RBI, Jaylin Adkins 2-2, 1 RBI, and a triple, Kayla Douglas 2-3, 2 RBI’s, and a double, Abrianna Berry 2-3, 1 RBI, and a double, Maya Douglas 3-3, with 5 RBI’s and two doubles.
Patriots – 6 10 5 X X X X – 21 20 0
Wildcats -0 0 0 X X X X – 0 0 0
On Friday night at home, the Lady Patriots jumped all over the Ravens from Rocky River with a quick 19-0 rout over another bottom dweller. One has to wonder if both the Wildcats and Rocky River belong in the Southwestern 4A Conference which is always very competitive with the top tier teams. Based on registration at these schools maybe they should be downgraded to 3A.
In the shortened game, the Patriots smacked 8 hits and worked 12 bases on balls scoring 9 runs in the first inning and 10 runs in the second inning for the quick victory. Sophomore Mackenzie Grant went 1-1, HBP, and scored twice, Freshman Kristen Kirby 1-1, 2 walks, 2 RBI’s, Midori Walkup 1-1, 2 walks, and 2 RBI’s. While regulars Emily Shaver, Jaylin Adkins, and Maya Douglas all made significant contributions in the win.
Kayla Douglas struck out the side in the first inning, relief pitcher Mallory Shaver pitched two scoreless innings striking out 4 Raven batters.
Ravens – 0 0 0 X X X X – 0 0 3
Patriots – 9 10 X X X X – 19 8 0
The Lady Patriots will have a competitive conference game away Tuesday, March 26th at 5:00 pm when they take on the Myers Park Mustangs.
