By TODD REED
News Leader Sports Editor
The Lady Lions defeated Alliance 4-1 and West Branch 8-0 to remain within one game of the league leaders.
Canton South and Northwest are tied for first with identical 7-1 marks. Minerva is in third place at 6-2.
The girls lost all three games at the Centennial Classic in Columbus, falling to Reynoldsburg 3-0, Bishop Waterson 6-5, and Danville 13-6.
Minerva (8-8, 6-2) were to face Marlington on April 29, before hosting Carrollton today (May 1). The Lady Lions will host Canton South on Tuesday, May 6.
Minerva 4
Alliance 1
"This was a good win for us against a really good-hitting team," stated Head Coach Ed Haught. "Their record is deceiving. They have played everybody tough. Ashley Kerr did a good job of holding their top hitters in check. This was a good all-around win against a pretty tough team."
Kerr went the distance, giving up one earned run on four hits. She struck out four and walked four.
Offensively, Anne Marie Soles was 2-for-2 with a run scored, Brooke Preston was 1-for-3 with a three-run double in the fifth inning, and Kourtney Betler was 1-for-2 with a run.
Minerva 8
West Branch 0
Erica Davis allowed just two hits in recording the shut out win over the Lady Warriors. Davis struck out five and did not allow a walk.
At the plate, Betler was 2-for-4 with two runs and a stolen base; Katie Mihok was 2-for-4 with three RBIs; Jill Green was 1-for-1 with two runs and two stolen bases; Preston was 1-for-3 with an RBI; and Elyse Brigham had a single, RBI and run scored.
"Erica pitched well, our defense was solid and we did a nice job hitting with runners on base," noted Coach Haught. "The downside to this game was the fact we lost Anne Marie with an ankle injury. We will miss her bat at the bottom of the order. Hopefully, she won't miss too many games."
Reynoldsburg 3
Minerva 0
The Lady Lions managed just three hits in their first game in Columbus this past weekend.
Reynoldsburg scored the game's only three runs in the fourth inning.
"They had a girl get a big hit in the fourth inning and that proved to be the difference," commented Coach Haught. "You have to tip your cap to them. They got a clutch hit when they needed it. We left a couple of runners on base in the seventh inning. We struggled at the plate."
Kerr pitched seven innings, giving up three earned on four hits and two walks. She struck out seven.
Bishop Waterson 6
Minerva 5
"We led 5-3 entering the seventh and let them score three on us," noted Coach Haught. "This was a tough one to take. They are a solid opponent and play in a tough league. We didn't make a lot of mistakes. We let the last inning get away from us.
"I was happy with our effort, but this was the second straight game we made some mental errors that ended up giving the other team runs."
Katie Worley was 2-for-4 with two RBIs; Athena Spinell was 2-for-4 with a run scored; Preston was 1-for-3 with two runs and an RBI; Betler was 2-for-4 with a run; Brigham was 2-for-4 with a run; and Tara Lawson had an RBI triple.
Davis pitched seven innings, giving up six runs, all earned, on 12 hits. She struck out four and walked none.
Danville 13
Minerva 6
Minerva committed 11 errors as it dropped its third straight game.
The Lady Lions led 5-0, but were outscored 13-1 the rest of the way.
"Collectively, as a team, we lost our focus in this one," commented Coach Haught. "We hit the ball well, but everything that could go wrong defensively, did. We were without two starters. So we had to move some people around on defense.
"Danville is a very fast team with six lefties in the lineup. They beat out four legitimate bunts for hits. Speed kills and it got us in this one."
Preston was 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI; Spinell was 2-for-4; Worley was 1-for-4 with a run and an RBI; Green was 2-for-4 with a run; and Lawson was 2-for-4.
Kerr allowed 13 runs on 10 hits, striking out six.