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Cline leads Mason County over Lewis County, 9-8
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By CHUCK HAMILTON Sports Writer
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Senior shortstop Lacey Cline's three-run home run in the sixth inning lifted Mason County to a 9-8 win over visiting Lewis County Friday afternoon at the Maysville-Mason County Recreation Park.
Cline drove in six of the Lady Royals runs in her 2-for-4 performance at the plate but it was the bomb down the left field line with two outs and a pair of runners on base that had the crowd buzzing.
"As always, Lacey came through, she really hit that ball, especially with the wind blowing in today," said Mason County coach Meredith Fraysure.
Cline, who was clutching the home run ball after the game, wasn't sure the ball would clear the fence when it first came off the bat.
"I didn't think it was going over the fence because I hit it so high," Cline said. "Coach Fraysure was making us wait on the first pitch and I let one go by that I liked. But I got another good pitch and I'm happy the way it turned out. I just got a new bat and today was the first time I used it in a game, and also the first time I have hit one out of here."
The home run became even more critical for the Lady Royals when Lewis County rallied for three runs in the seventh inning to pull to within one. The golden opportunity slipped away for the visitors when Mason County pitcher Karissa Greenhill left the potential tying run at third base with nobody out. The inning began with three consecutive walks to load the bases, with cleanup hitter Molly Caskey stepping to the plate.
The junior catcher delivered with a bases clearing triple into the right-center field gap, but Greenhill came back strong, getting a groundout and a pair of strikeouts to finish the game and send the Lady Royals supporters home happy.
"Karissa was kind of out of her groove today, which isn't normal for her, and when that happens, usually our offense slumps a little," said Fraysure. "But the girls came through today, got back into the swing of things, and it was good to see Krista Hamilton back today after missing some time lately."
Hamilton, the Mason County senior catcher, who was celebrating her 18th birthday, was 3-for-3 and scored two runs after being out for a week.
Lewis County coach Jimmy Lykins was also impressed with Cline's performance but liked the way his team battled.
"It was just too much Lacey Cline today and she's an outstanding player. I thought about putting her on but it was kind of like pick your poison, because Sarah Mitchell (who follows Cline in the lineup) had hit the ball hard as well," said Lykins. "Mason County has a nice young team, but our girls never did give up and they played hard."
The Lady Lions jumped in front early, scoring a pair of runs in the opening inning, with the big hit a triple by Whitley Mason, which brought in Jessi Marth, who drew a game-opening base on balls.
Mason County came back with a single run in the first and added two more in the second to take the lead. Tiara Harris led off with a walk against Lewis County pitcher Amanda Gilbert, went to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a Cline groundout in the first. In the second, Hilary Doyle walked with one out before back-to-back singles from Hamilton and Alexis Anderson and an RBI sacrifice bunt from Harris.
The Lady Lions tied the game in the third with an unearned run. A double to deep left-center by Amber Clark drove in Trayla Liles, who had reached on an error.
The Lady Royals claimed the lead for good in the fourth inning when they came up with three runs on five hits. Andreana Bennett began the rally with a base hit to left. A sacrifice bunt and consecutive singles from Hamilton, Anderson and Harris brought in the first run. After a walk, Cline lined a single to center field to score two.
Lewis County plated a pair in the fifth to trim the lead to 6-5 before Cline's heroics. With two out, Liles doubled, Caskey singled and Clark doubled off the left field fence.
The two teams will have a rematch in Vanceburg Monday at 5 p.m.
Lewis County 201 020 3 8 6 0
Mason County 120 303 X 9 12 2
WP -- Greenhill, LP -- Gilbert.
Hitting leaders: LC --Marth 2R; Mason 1-3, 3B, 2R, RBI; Liles 1-3, 2B, 3R; Caskey 2-3, 3B, R, 4RBI; Clark 2-4, 2 2B, 2RBI. MC -- Harris 2-2, 3R, 2RBI; Cline 2-4, R, HR, 6RBI; Bennett 1-3, R; Hamilton 3-3, 2R; Anderson 3-3, RBI.
Records: Lewis County 6-5, Mason County 7-8. |
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