Shilling blasts 2, Lady Blue Devils shoot down Eagles 10-0 in semis
The Danville Lady Blue Devils took a 5-0 lead in the Division 4 District semifinals on Monday, May 16, and coasted to a 10-0 victory over the Delaware Christian Eagles behind two home runs by Keaura Shilling and a one-hit shutout by Grace Gronberg.
Gronberg, who threw a perfect game against Tree of Life on May 11, allowed one hit, walked four and struck out 10 to gain the win.
The Lady Devils scored in every inning and were in command all the way. After Gronberg struck out the side in the top of the first, Shilling led off the Danville first with a line drive homer to left to make it 1-0. With two out, Cami Newbold reached on an error by the left fielder and Taryn Mickley followed with a two-run blast to center to make it 3-0. An error, followed by a Cordi Richert double, was followed by another Lady Eagles error to give the Lady Blue Devils a 5-0 lead. Shilling homered again in the third on a liner to left to give Danville an 8-0 advantage.
Danville accumulated 11 hits and was led on offense by Shilling’s two home runs and one round-tripper by Mickley. Shilling, Mickley and Richert with two hits apiece. Mickley drove in three runs and Shilling had two RBIs.
Lady Trojans take down Fairbanks Panthers, 9-4
In the Division 3 District semifinals May 18, Centerburg bested Fairbanks 9-4.
Scoring a run each in the first and second innings, the Lady Trojans took a 4-0 lead in the top of the third and withstood a small comeback by the Lady Panthers. Centerburg increased the 4-3 margin to 7-3 after five innings and 9-3 after six to control the outcome.
Centerburg played errorless ball, while the Lady Panthers made nine errors.
Freddies break up pitchers’ duel for 2-0 win over Lady Riders
In their Division 3 District semifinal match against West Jefferson, Fredericktown scored two runs in the fifth to beat the Lady Riders 2-0, May 18.
In the fifth, Emma Hatfield singled and was driven in by Lainy Partington. Jess Montalvo iced it with a solo home run, and that took care of the scoring. Miranda Payne was in the circle for the Lady Freddies and threw 90 pitches to complete a seven-inning shutout, allowing two hits and four walks while striking out 11.
Lady Bulldogs blast Rockets, 10-0
Maddy Cotsamire scattered six hits and the East Knox Lady Bulldogs scored in bunches – three in the second, four in the fourth and three in the sixth – to eliminate the Ridgedale Lady Rockets, 10-0, in the Division 4 District semis on May 16.
After Cotsamire retired the Lady Rockets in the first and second without allowing a run, EK got on the board in the second on a one-out walk and an error, followed by an RBI-single to make it 1-0. With two outs, Cotsamire doubled in two runs and the Lady Bulldogs took a 3-0 lead.
Cotsamire led the Lady Bulldogs’ nine-hit attack with a double, a single and two RBIs. Natalie Smith blasted a triple and a single, and the bottom five batters in the lien-up each collected a single. Hannah McCoy reached base four times, on a single and three walks.
Cotsamire struck out five in the circle, walked two and threw 92 pitches for the shutout victory.
