Article and Photos by T Ray Henry
On Tuesday, March 24th, the Marshall High School softball team traveled to Georgetown to play a non-conference game against the Georgetown-Ridge Farm Lady Buffaloes on the field turf at the GRFHS softball diamond. The Lions came into the game with a record of 2-0, while the Lady Buffaloes came in with a record of 1-4.
Georgetown-Ridge Farm’s pitching ace Chloe Stephenson, a junior who pitched 7 innings the day before against Tri-County while recording 16 strikeouts, was not available to go against the Lions so as to not wear out her arm so early in the season. The Lady Buffaloes do not have the same luxury of arms as Marshall does to send into the circle behind Stephenson. The game began with in the Lions jumping out of the gate for 11 runs in the top of the first inning and 9 runs in the top of the second inning. Lions senior pitcher Avery Cornwell allowed just one baserunner in three innings of work before giving way to sophomore Mollie Kent for the final inning of a 20-0 Marshall win. Cornwell and Kent combined for 8 strikeouts on the day as the Big Red bats came to life, matching the total number of hits generated in their first two games combined (10). Marshall batters were also walked 12 times. Four Lions (Klaire York, Ella Mattas, Abby Engerski, and McKenzie Davis) were each hit by a pitch, adding to a total of 26 Lions batters reaching base in the four-inning contest.
In the top of the first inning, the Lions sent 15 batters to the plate, scoring 11 runs in the process. Lynn Welborn led off the game with a single to left field. After Welborn stole second and third bases, Lauren English brought her in to score the first run of the game with a line drive single to right field. English then stole second base and moved to third on a passed ball. She then came in to score on a wild pitch to make it 2-0. After McKenzie Davis drew a walk, Avery Cornwell lofted a drive to right field which brought in Davis and allowed Cornwell to make it all the way to third base. With the Lions ahead 3-0, Klaire York and Ella Mattas were each hit by a pitch in succession, and Marshall had the bases loaded, still with nobody out in the inning.
Kyla Gustafson came up to bat next and reached base while clearing the bases to increase the Lions’ lead to 6-0 as Gus ended up at second base. After Katelyn McNeely walked to put runners on at first and second, Lilly Nickles came up and laced a double to left field to score Gustafson with Marshall’s 7th run of the inning while advancing McNeely to third base.
Later on in the inning, Lilly Nickles, Lynn Welborn, and Lauren English came in to score on a drive by Avery Cornwell, then Cornwell brought home Marshall’s 11th run on a single by Klair York to close out the scoring onslaught to open the game.
After Avery Cornwell set the Lady Buffaloes down in order in the bottom of the first, Marshall came up to bat in the top of the second, and they picked up where they left off in the first by scoring as additional 9 runs to take a 20-0 lead after 1 ½ innings of play. Katelyn McNeely, Lilly Nickles, and Ella Mattas each recorded a single in the inning as Georgetown-Ridge Farm had trouble finding the strike zone. In the second, 8 Marshall batters drew walks which padded the lead.
Avery Cornwell came back to pitch the bottom of the second, and she closed the inning with a nice 1-6-3 double play with Lynn Welborn and Ella Mattas. She also pitched the bottom of the third, striking out the side before giving way to Mollie Kent, who pitched a scoreless fourth to end the game with Marshall winning by the score of 20-0.
Lynn Welborn (2-3, walk, 3 runs, 4 stolen bases), Avery Cornwell (2-2, walk, RBI, 3 runs scored), and Lilly Nickles (2-2, RBI, run scored) led the Lions with 2 hits apiece. Lauren English (1-1, walk, RBI, 2 runs scored, 2 stolen bases) and Ella Mattas (1-2, HBP, 2 RBI, 2 runs scored) each scored multiple times, and Kyla Gustafson cleared the bases for 3 RBI during an at-bat in the first inning.
Abby Engerski, Catie Nave, Klair York, Mollie Kent, Olivia Strohm, Katelyn McNeely, and Raegyn Kent each drove in a run, while Caitlyn Hilliard and McKenzie Davis each scored a run. After the game, freshman Marleigh Green was named offensive player of the game, while Avery Cornwell, Ella Mattas, and Lynn Welborn were named defensive players of the game.
Marshall (3-0) plays its next game this Thursday when the Lions host Hutsonville-Palestine for the first home game of the season. First pitch at the Marshall softball diamond is scheduled for 4:30 PM.
Lauren English (3) drives a pitch to right field to bring home the first run of the game against Georgetown-Ridge Farm
Mollie Kent (19) fires the final pitch as shortstop Lynn Welborn readies for a grounder which ended the game against Georgetown-Ridge Farm
Avery Cornwell picked up the win vs Georgetoewn-Ridge Farm, giving up just one hit and striking out four while walking none (1)
