South softball tops Triton with timely hitting

by John Lucas | Mar 24, 2023 | South Johnston

Kaylee Cox gets a hit for South Johnston on Thursday night.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Timely hitting led South Johnston’s varsity softball team to a 5-1 win over visiting nonconference rival Triton on Thursday night.

“I think scoring with two outs was kind of big,” said South Johnston coach Ashley Ennis. “Lannah (Price) did a good at the plate and on the bases and Kaylee Cox, too. We were able to run the bases and steal bases from them and get runners in scoring position and then get that timely hit.”

Sophomore Ava Strickland pitched the complete game win for the Trojans (10-1), giving up no earned runs on four hits and one walk, with eight strikeouts.

“Ava did a good job in the circle and we played good defense behind her,” Ennis said.

Junior Aubree Bass also pitched a complete game for the Hawks (7-4), yielding three earned runs on seven hits and three walks, with four strikeouts.

Sophomores Lannah Price and Kaylee Cox both went a perfect 3-for-3 to lead South Johnston at the plate. Price also had two RBIs and Cox also had two runs scored.

“Bottom of the lineup kind of stepped up and got us back,” Ennis said. “They were on base when Lannah came up. Sometimes that’s what you need. Everybody’s not going to come out here and have a good night every night. They picked it up there at the bottom when the top didn’t necessarily come through.

“But that’s why it’s a team game. It’s not just the first four. If you can get all nine to do something to help you win and be productive, you’ve got something good going.”

Strickland had a double and a run scored. Emma Cashwell had one RBI and two runs scored.

Sophomore Berkley Campbell had one hit and one RBI, junior Stephanie Davis had one hit and one run scored and junior Abby Miller and senior Ashley Pope had one hit apiece for Triton.

Cox singled with two out in the bottom of the second inning and Cashwell drew a walk. Both advanced on a double steal and scored on a base hit from Price.

Davis led off the top of the fourth with a bunt single, advanced two bases on a T.K. McLean sacrifice bunt and scored when Campbell reached on an error.

Strickland doubled in the bottom of the fourth and Cox followed with a base hit. Both scored on an error on a sacrifice bunt from Cashwell, who reached third on the same error and scored on a wild pitch.

Both teams return to conference play on Friday. South Johnston hosts Quad County 3-A Conference opponent Hunt (4-4) and Triton is at home against All American 3-A/4-A Conference opponent Terry Sanford (1-7).