NEW MARKET – Sammie Crosby slapped all of the gathered infielders’ gloves even before she tossed her first pitch.
It was about the confidence and response.
The Southmont freshman pitcher and her teammates did respond from a poor performance the night before with a 23-2 win over Frankfort in high school softball Tuesday evening at Mountie Field.
The memory of the collapse against Parke Heritage Monday still fresh on all minds.
“It was a complete turnaround from last night,” South coach Dan Taylor said. “I was really proud of the team and how they played. Sammie got her first varsity win, threw strikes and did what we asked her to do.”
The only real deterrent was the weather. Lightning caused a 49-minute delay in the bottom of the second inning with South already ahead 14-0. Weather again was a factor in the top of the fifth and the game was called complete.
Crosby threw a 64-pitch complete game, striking out seven along the way and giving up five hits.
The Mounties (2-4, 1-2 Sagamore Conference) connected early at the plate with a seven-run first inning. Leadoff hitter Anna Stokes walked, stole second, went to third on a bad throw and scored on a wild pitch. With one out, Mallory Mason walked and cleanup hitter Kyndale Rice parked one over left center for a quick 3-0 lead. Catie Himes then doubled. Kami Dinius, the only South senior, reached on an infield hit and Kenzi Douglas walked to load the bases. That set up a shot to the fence by junior Jayden Dagley, clearing the bases. Dagley wound up on third with a triple and scored on a Kendall Priebe hit.
A two-run triple by Priebe and a Mason homer that plated two highlighted a nine-run second. South added one in the third and six in the fourth, half of those on a bases loaded triple from Douglas.
“Last night we were chasing balls. Tonight, I thought we had really good strike zone discipline. That gives them the opportunity to hit pitches where they want them. I thought that was a real key.”
The pitching of Crosby was backed up by overall stellar defense as well
“We had great defense tonight. I told them we are a much better team than what we showed last night. Let’s go out and play the game the way you know how to play and that’s what they did in all facets.”
South cleared its bench, replacing all but Douglas in the lineup.
Frankfort (0-3, 0-3) scored single runs in the fourth and fifth. Leadoff hitter Justine Thomas and third hitting Kailye Ziebarthe combined for four of the five Hot Dog hits. Thomas had a RBI double in the fifth. The run in the fourth was aided by a South error.
The two teams meet up again Wednesday at Frankfort.
