HC softball blasts Panther Creek

by John Lucas | Mar 26, 2018 | Articles, Harnett Central

Ansley Lee connects for a three-run homer for Harnett Central on Monday night. (Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Harnett Central made short work of visiting Panther Creek, winning 13-3 in five innings in a nonconference varsity softball game Monday.

“We really had focused at-bats,” said Central coach Lauren Taylor. “The girls went up there with a purpose and that was on their minds: to accomplish what their specific job was to do. And it translated well for us.”

Junior Ansley Lee took the complete game win pitching for the Trojans (5-3), giving up three earned runs on five hits, three walks and a hit batter, with six strikeouts.

Junior Shelbie Gill led all hitters with two hits, including a triple, two RBIs and two runs scored.

Fallon Wimberly had two hits and one RBI. Lee had a three-run home run. Tanner Williford had a triple, two RBIs and two runs scored. Kylee Frailey had a double, one RBI and three runs scores. Lyndsey Brewer had a triple, one RBI and one run scored. Alexis Carroll, Anna Ausley, Michaela Cabe and Amaya Bell scored one run apiece.

“We’ve got some girls that have some power,” Taylor said. “When they wait and get behind the ball and are able to use it, we can get some extra bases.”

The Catamounts (4-4) were led by freshman Abby Montanus, with two hits, including a double, one RBI and one run scored.

Panther Creek took the early lead when Corinne Somers drew a walk and scored on a double from Montanus to start the game.

Frailey and Carroll drew walks to lead off the bottom of the first and both scored on a two-out triple from Williford, who scored on an error on the same play.

Central sent the entire order to the plate in the bottom of the second inning. Lee reached on an error and Ausley walked and Bell, running for Lee, and Ausley scored on a triple from Gill, who scored on Frailey’s double. Brewer tripled to score Frailey and scored on a base hit from Wimberly.

In the third inning, Ausley walked, Gill singled and Frailey reached on a fielder’s choice. Gill and Frailey both scored when Carroll reached on an error.

After Williford reached on a fielder’s choice and Kolby Medlin walked, Lee cleared the left field fence, also scoring Williford and Cabe, running for Medlin, to put the 10-run rule into effect.

In the top of the fifth, Hayley Meehan walked and Montanus singled and both scored on a double from Vianna Rodriguez. But a strikeout and a pop-up to Wimberly, on first, ended the game.

Harnett Central returns to conference play Tuesday, hosting Southern Lee (0-8). The Trojans, currently tied with Triton in first place at 3-0 in conference, took the first meeting with the Cavaliers 14-1 on Friday.

“We’ve got to keep on hitting and show up pitching and defensively,” Taylor said. “And hopefully, we’ll get another one.”