News editor
The Marion High School Lady Warriors softball team repeatedly got base-runners into scoring position but were unable to capitalize Monday against Ell-Saline. Ell-Saline won both games of the double header, 11-0.
Down 11 runs in the bottom of the sixth inning in game one, Chelsea Voth appeared to lay down a bunt that got her safely to first base and Shayla Kline to third, but after conferring, the umpires ruled it a foul bunt. Continuing the at-bat, Voth made a successful sacrifice bunt to advance Kline to second base, but instead of runners on first and third with one out, the situation was a runner on second with two outs. Ell-Saline finished the shutout with a strikeout.
In game one, part of Marion’s scoring problem was getting runners into scoring position early in an inning. Four times they advanced runners to second or third base, but never with fewer than two outs. The Lady Warriors improved on that immediately in the second game, loading the bases with one out in the first inning, but two quick outs ended the MHS scoring threat. Marion wouldn’t advance a runner to scoring position the rest of the game, despite several well-struck balls. Every time the Warriors made solid contact, the Ell-Saline defenders were perfectly positioned to field the ball.
“Just have to keep driving through the ball,” Marion head coach Chad Adkins said after the double header. “Just keep working hard, and they do.
“They have to play more,” he added. “It’s a short season.”
Adkins said Ell-Saline has nine girls who play summer softball together for a 50-game season.
Megan Richmond pitched the full first game and started the second game. Chelsea Voth took over in relief after Ell-Saline got a string of hard-hit drives to center field, including a three-run home run. Richmond retook the mound with one out in the fifth inning.
Over the course of the double header, the Lady Warriors demonstrated discipline at the plate, with six players combining for seven walks.