Vierstra out-duels Locke as Lakewood nips Valley

• Vierstra pitched a four-hitter with 11 strikeouts and one walk for Lakewood %282-0%29.
• Kori Locke was also very good%2C pitching a four-hitter with 10 strikeouts%2C two walks and a hit batter

HANOVER – In a pitching duel you might expect to see later in the season, Lakewood had a slight advantage: the Brownfield sisters.

Leadoff hitter Bailey Brownfield doubled in the fifth inning and scored on No. 3 hitter Brenna Brownfield's single, lifting the visiting Lancers past defending Licking County League champion Licking Valley 1-0 Wednesday.

"I always know they're going to get hits. If they don't get one the first time, they will the next time," said sophomore Courtney Vierstra, who pitched a four-hitter with 11 strikeouts and one walk for the Lancers (2-0).

Valley senior Kori Locke was also very good, pitching a four-hitter with 10 strikeouts, two walks and a hit batter in the Panthers' season opener.

"She just pitched a great game, with her movement and hitting her spots," said Lakewood coach Criss Nadolson. "Ours was just a little better, and our kids stayed at it."

The Lancers finally broke through in the fifth, after Locke stranded runners at third with one out in the first and third innings and left a runner at second in the fourth.

Bailey Brownfield doubled just over the left fielder's head and one out later, sister Brenna singled up the middle for the game's only run. In her first at bat, Brenna just missed a home run that curved around the left field foul pole over the fence.

"It was my fault (on the double). I moved Lauryn (Greer) in because she (Bailey Brownfield) had dinked one in fromt of her earlier," Valley coach Mark Paxton said. "But the bottom line is, we can't let one run beat us. Kori Locke pitched well enough to win."

Brenna Brownfield had faced Locke in travel ball, but said she was especially on her game Wednesday. "She had really good spins and really moved it," she said. "They're one of our best rivals. Whenever we can get them, it brings our team together for the whole season."

Vierstra was also on, pitching her second consecutive shutout. She left runners at second in the third, fourth and sixth innings, but the Panthers never got anyone to third. Right fielder Alexa Perry ended the third with a diving catch, saving a run.

Nadolson said Vierstra is more composed this season. "She's worked really hard and has a lot more confidence," Brenna Brownfield added.

"I wanted to hit my spots, rather than trying to throw super hard," Vierstra said. "Against the good teams, they're going to hit you if you just throw hard.

"This was huge. This sets a tone, and lets us know where we are."

Carly Skeese just missed a tying home run in the sixth, her blast to left landing over the fence just outside the pole. Paxton was down after the loss, but not out. He used 14 players, several making their varsity debuts.

"We leave here disappointed, but we'll be alright," he said. "We have some inexperience, but they grew up today. One through 15 will truly be important for us this season."

dweidig@newarkadvocate.com

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Twitter: @noz75