Greenwood Christian’s errors opened the door and Edinburgh’s offense did the rest as the Lancers rolled to a 16-2 win in a Class A softball sectional semifinal at Edinburgh on Friday.
Greenwood Christian committed nine errors in the game, including eight in the first two innings, as Edinburgh jumped out to a 16-0 lead. The Lancers collected nine hits of their own but all 16 runs were unearned.
“We came out in warmups a little bit flat, but once the game started the girls picked up the pace and did what they needed to do for sure,” Edinburgh coach Stephen Clark said.
The errors started right away for GCA. Edinburgh’s first two batters of the game reached on miscues and that jump-started an opening inning that saw the Lancers send 11 batters to the plate and score seven runs.
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Five more errors in the second — plus Sidney Beier’s two-run home run to left center — led to nine more runs and the rout was on.
“We made some mental errors, but I think in the end we gave it everything we had,” Greenwood Christian coach Bill Hardwick said. “This team never gives up. We came back from a 17-4 deficit earlier (in the year) in one game to win. These girls don’t give up.”
While GCA continued to fight, the game was essentially over after the second inning. The Cougars (10-7) pushed two runs across the board in the top of the fourth on singles by Grace Apgar, Morgan Haynes and Katelyn Potter but could get no closer.
Edinburgh (15-7), meanwhile, didn’t really try to play add-on. Clark spent his final two at-bats subbing frequently and having his offense work on bunts rather than piling on the runs.
“I’m a believer in that you have to respect the game and respect everybody you play,” Clark said. “I don’t like it when the coin is flipped and somebody does that to us. This was just one of those games.”
Beier finished the game 3 for 4 with a homer, three RBIs and three runs scored for Edinburgh while Kaitlyn Bailey was added two RBIs and two runs scored. Paige Burton, Emma Wade and Maddi Clark each drove in two runs, Breiana Burton had a hit and scored twice and Morgan Calhoun had a hit, an RBI and a run scored.
Abigail Warner had two hits and stole a base for Greenwood Christian.
Maddi Clark pitched the first inning with three strikeouts and Vanessa McManaway went the rest of the way to pick up her second win of the season for the Lancers. McManaway (2-1) struck out three while scattering four hits and two unearned runs.
Bethany Dailey (6-3) allowed nine hits and no earned runs with four walks in three innings and suffered the loss for GCA.
Edinburgh will now host Indianapolis Lutheran in the sectional championship today at noon. The Saints have sailed through the first two rounds with a pair of shutouts and despite an 11-15 record will be a formidable opponent.
The teams split a doubleheader earlier this season.
“They play a tough schedule. They do that for a reason. He wants his kids to be challenged and he wants to play tough competition,” Stephen Clark said of Lutheran coach Kevin Schmidt. “They’re a very solid team and it should be a pretty good game.”
