Huntsmen make Bearcats pay for costly errors
BAINBRIDGE – Going into the game, the biggest news was the upcoming pitcher's duel. Going out, errors took over the headlines.
Huntington traveled to Paint Valley, Monday night, and left with a 12-0 victory thanks to timely hitting and costly errors charged to the Bearcats' defense.
"This was a great win for us," Huntington coach Spenser Smith said. "This brings us right back to the middle of the pack in the SVC race. We're always ready to move up and compete every night against the best teams in the conference and we think that we're at a good level right now with where we want to be. We just want to build from this and add on every single game."
Huntington's Brooklyn Neighbors got the first run on the board after crossing home plate on a passed ball in the second inning to make it 1-0, Huntsmen.
In the top of the third inning, after Alayna Lytle was walked, Baylee DePugh singled, which drove Lytle to third base. With runners on the corners, Rikki Magill stepped to the plate and singled to score Lytle. DePugh would advance to third and score on the next passed ball to make it 3-0, Huntington.
From that point on, Huntington (6-5, 3-4 Scioto Valley Conference) would just pour gasoline onto the fire.
They would go on to add five more runs over the remainder of the third and fourth innings, thanks in part to stolen bases and Bearcat' defensive errors and passed balls. By the beginning of the fifth, Huntington owned an 8-0 lead.
"We really went after it," Smith said. "We were clicking really well tonight. We did a great job of being aggressive on the base paths and taking what Paint Valley was giving us. We wanted to win this game and make a statement and I love the effort our kids gave out on the field offensively and defensively."
The top of the fifth saw Huntington drive in four more runs, with the help of an Alayna Lytle two-run double, to make it 10-0. Lytle and DePugh would later steal home to add two more insurance runs.
Lytle went the distance for the Huntsmen throwing five complete innings, giving up just two hits with no earned runs, while striking out nine Bearcats.
"Alayna is such a solid player," Smith said. "You know you're going to get a great pitching performance from her on the mound every night. She's been pitching at this level all four years. She's an overall tremendous competitor and that's what this team loves about her."
Rikki Magill led Huntington at the plate, going 2-3 with a single, double and an RBI. Lytle was 1-3 with a double and two RBIs while Kaylee Hurley went 1-2 with a single and an RBI.
As for Paint Valley (2-8, 1-6 SVC), Mikayla Newland also pitched a complete game, giving up six hits and seven earned runs. Newland walked four batters and struck out 12. She also collected the only two Bearcat' hits of the game, going 2-2 at the dish.
"I'm very pleased with this game," Smith said. "Whenever you can get a win against an outstanding pitcher like Newland, we're very happy. She's one of the best in our conference so it's great to get this one under our belts. We'll build from this victory and get ready for our next challenge."
Both teams will return to action, Wednesday, as Huntington travels to Piketon and Paint Valley hosts Zane Trace.