Lady ‘Topper Defense Highlights Elimination Win Over West Ridge
Maddie Diamond started the season at third-base, but the Science Hill defense has struck gold with the University of Delaware commit’s move over to shortstop.
“Some things had happened and we just decided we needed to make some changes and shortstop, Maddie kind of owns that position,” said Science Hill coach Megan Harmon. “She’s our vocal leader, she’s our physical leader.”
Tuesday evening Diamond started a pair of double plays that snuffed out potential West Ridge rallies in a 2-1 District 1-AAAA elimination win over the Lady Wolves at Daniel Boone High School.
After West Ridge opened the fourth inning with back-to-back singles from Kami Clark and Lily Frazier, Diamond, Kaylee Oler and Annabelle Eanes rolled over the 6-4-3 twin killing.
With one on and one out in the sixth, Diamond took a roller herself for the force and second and fired a seed to Eanes for the double-up.
“Those double plays we work on every day,” noted Harmon. “We don’t get many opportunities for those on game day, but today we had two opportunities and we took advantage of both of them.”
After Lacy Fugate’s single brought in the Lady Wolves’ only run of the game in the seventh, Diamond took a strike from Lora Wilgus to erase the potential tying run at second.
“That’s something we work on every day, too,” added Harmon.
The flashy defense was in support of the five-hit pitching of Isabel Meeks, who coming off an nine-inning, 115-pitch outing the night before against Dobyns-Bennett
“Izzy was pretty efficient last night,” noted Harmon. “She said she was fine and not hurting and she wanted to go. She wants the ball and right now she’s pitching very well. We’re going to ride her as long as we can right here.”
The Lady ‘Toppers (21-9) also posted two early runs in support of Meeks. Beth Pridemore and Kaylee Oler singled to open the both of the first with Pridemore coming on a Lora Wilgus roller to first.
Malia Maroukas walked, moved to second on a two-out single by Eans, to third on another single by Pridemore and came home on a wild pitch.
“She (Meeks) pitches a whole lot better when she’s got some offensive support,” continued Harmon. “I said that before the game, give her some runs, give her support. Scoring early is key for this team.”
West Ridge finally put a run on the board in the seventh, but finishes the season at 23-17, the most successful of its first three campaigns.
“We are trying to set a standard and we didn’t live up to it tonight,” said West Ridge coach Bill Wagner. “Now, the good thing is we have a standard we need to live up to. And we are just about there.”
Frazier had two hits for West Ridge with Miranda Henley and Victoria Browder alternating in the circle. Browder went four innings, allowing four hits and striking out two in the middle of Henley’s two stints.
Every Lady Wolf that dressed Tuesday evening returns next year.
“This offseason, going into next year will be the turning point for this whole program. I am totally convinced of that,” continued Wagner. “I hate losing, but I am super proud of where we are at.”
Maroukas and Pridemore finished with two hits apiece for Science Hill. Meeks struck out five and walked just one and will likely be back in the circle when the Lady ‘Toppers face Daniel Boone in another elimination contest on Wednesday. The winner earns a berth to the region tournament.
West Ridge – Miranda Henley, Victoria Browder (2), Miranda Henley (6) and Savannah Pogue. Science Hill – Isabel Meeks and Lora Wilgus. W – Isabel Meeks, L – Miranda Henley. RBI – Lacey Fugate, West Ridge; Lora Wilgus, Science Hill. SAC – Kami Clark, West Ridge. SB – Lily Frazier, West Ridge; Malia Maroukas, Science Hill. DP – Science Hill 2. LOB – West Ridge 3, Science Hill 6.
“Some things had happened and we just decided we needed to make some changes and shortstop, Maddie kind of owns that position,” said Science Hill coach Megan Harmon. “She’s our vocal leader, she’s our physical leader.”
Tuesday evening Diamond started a pair of double plays that snuffed out potential West Ridge rallies in a 2-1 District 1-AAAA elimination win over the Lady Wolves at Daniel Boone High School.
After West Ridge opened the fourth inning with back-to-back singles from Kami Clark and Lily Frazier, Diamond, Kaylee Oler and Annabelle Eanes rolled over the 6-4-3 twin killing.
With one on and one out in the sixth, Diamond took a roller herself for the force and second and fired a seed to Eanes for the double-up.
“Those double plays we work on every day,” noted Harmon. “We don’t get many opportunities for those on game day, but today we had two opportunities and we took advantage of both of them.”
After Lacy Fugate’s single brought in the Lady Wolves’ only run of the game in the seventh, Diamond took a strike from Lora Wilgus to erase the potential tying run at second.
“That’s something we work on every day, too,” added Harmon.
The flashy defense was in support of the five-hit pitching of Isabel Meeks, who coming off an nine-inning, 115-pitch outing the night before against Dobyns-Bennett
“Izzy was pretty efficient last night,” noted Harmon. “She said she was fine and not hurting and she wanted to go. She wants the ball and right now she’s pitching very well. We’re going to ride her as long as we can right here.”
The Lady ‘Toppers (21-9) also posted two early runs in support of Meeks. Beth Pridemore and Kaylee Oler singled to open the both of the first with Pridemore coming on a Lora Wilgus roller to first.
Malia Maroukas walked, moved to second on a two-out single by Eans, to third on another single by Pridemore and came home on a wild pitch.
“She (Meeks) pitches a whole lot better when she’s got some offensive support,” continued Harmon. “I said that before the game, give her some runs, give her support. Scoring early is key for this team.”
West Ridge finally put a run on the board in the seventh, but finishes the season at 23-17, the most successful of its first three campaigns.
“We are trying to set a standard and we didn’t live up to it tonight,” said West Ridge coach Bill Wagner. “Now, the good thing is we have a standard we need to live up to. And we are just about there.”
Frazier had two hits for West Ridge with Miranda Henley and Victoria Browder alternating in the circle. Browder went four innings, allowing four hits and striking out two in the middle of Henley’s two stints.
Every Lady Wolf that dressed Tuesday evening returns next year.
“This offseason, going into next year will be the turning point for this whole program. I am totally convinced of that,” continued Wagner. “I hate losing, but I am super proud of where we are at.”
Maroukas and Pridemore finished with two hits apiece for Science Hill. Meeks struck out five and walked just one and will likely be back in the circle when the Lady ‘Toppers face Daniel Boone in another elimination contest on Wednesday. The winner earns a berth to the region tournament.
West Ridge | 000 | 000 | 1 | -- | 1 | 5 | 0 |
Science Hill | 110 | 000 | 0 | -- | 2 | 7 | 0 |
West Ridge – Miranda Henley, Victoria Browder (2), Miranda Henley (6) and Savannah Pogue. Science Hill – Isabel Meeks and Lora Wilgus. W – Isabel Meeks, L – Miranda Henley. RBI – Lacey Fugate, West Ridge; Lora Wilgus, Science Hill. SAC – Kami Clark, West Ridge. SB – Lily Frazier, West Ridge; Malia Maroukas, Science Hill. DP – Science Hill 2. LOB – West Ridge 3, Science Hill 6.
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