NEW MARKET – Delaney Spencer shot both arms straight up in celebration.
After all, the defense behind her sealed the fate with a double play to end the game. That gave the Crawfordsville pitcher the victory 9-6 over Montgomery County rival Southmont Wednesday evening at Mountie Field. It was not only a victory, but the first of the season for coach Mackenzi Landrum and her Athenians (1-10, 1-6 Sagamore Conference).
“We came out ready, top to bottom,” Landrum said. “We only had nine or ten that could play and that’s been challenging. We talked about it all week – adversity and how to face it. Everybody fulfilled their role.”
“I thought Sammie (Crosby) pitched well for four-plus innings,” South assistant coach Barry Lewis said. “Then we fell apart defensively around her. The next couple innings Crawfordsville took advantage of it.”
Spencer, the transfer from Southmont, pitched a complete game and had stellar defense behind her. The only error was in the first inning and seven of the nine fielders had at least one assist or putout during the contest.
“She’s confident out there and did her thing,” Landrum said. “We relied a lot on her last week and it was great to see her come out and throw all seven innings. She had good control and threw strikes.”
The Athenian defense committed three errors bridging the two games, but also had standout times, including the game ending double play, outfield hustle and two runners caught stealing.
“We’ve been focusing on the little things,” Landrum said. “It’s starting to come together and so nice to see.”
The win was the nightcap of a doubleheader. Thanks to a Tuesday rainout at Crawfordsville, both games were played Wednesday on Mountie Field. South took the opener 15-2 in six innings. It is the second straight season CHS’ first win came against the Mounties.
South (6-6, 4-3) looked to be on the way to a sweep as freshman Crosby mowed down CHS on the mound through four innings and led 4-0. The visitors plated all nine runs between the fifth and sixth frames, on only four hits. The Mounties helped with four errors. Junior Kyndale Rice, the winning pitcher in game one, came on in relief with one out in the fifth, but CHS continued to roll.
An error and two walks loaded the bases in the fifth for CHS. Leadoff hitter Molly Pierce laced a double for two runs. Two errors later, three more runs were in and a 5-4 CHS lead after 10 batters came to the plate.
A four-run sixth was highlighted by a two-run single by freshman Angeli Martinez after the Athenians loaded the bases again. Three more Mountie errors helped.
In the opener, South scored four in the first and sixth innings for the 10-run rule win. Rice had a two RBI hit in both innings and finished the game 5-for-5 with seven runs driven in. She added two more hits in the nightcap. Catie Himes launched her second home run of the year in the fourth inning of the opener.
“We didn’t have the intensity we like to see, but we got the job done,” Lewis said. “We feel like we didn’t play Southmont softball, but we got some timely hits when we needed them. Kyndale gave us a good effort on the mound.”
South celebrated senior night as well for the only upper classman, Kami Dinius.
“She was one of five or six girls and she’s the only one that stuck it out for four years,” Lewis said. “She means a lot to us. It’s hard being the only senior on the team.”
South hosts Riverton Parke Friday and Greencastle Saturday before the next conference tilt against SAC leader Danville.
“That’s two years in a row they snuck up and got us,” Lewis said. “Hopefully, that will open our girls’ eyes as we’re now where we need to be.”
CHS plays at Parke Heritage and Covington before facing Western Boone.
“This is one stepping block in the right direction,” Landrum said. “This is Crawfordsville softball. We have to bring this every single game.”
