SpringfieldNewsSun.com

SPRINGBORO — The Carlisle High School softball team has probably faced faster pitchers this season than Blanchester's Erika Lee. But there's a reason why Lee had a 13-4 record entering a Division III sectional title game at Springboro High School on Saturday, May 17.

And the Indians found out why.

With marksmanship and pitch movement, Lee kept Indian hitters off-balance all afternoon, pitching a two-hitter in a 4-1 Blanchester victory.

"She's not too fast, not too slow," Carlisle's Lauren Back said. "But she has really good ball movement."

Back is one of only three seniors on a young Indians squad, which this season was 14-13 and finished second in the Southwestern Buckeye League Buckeye Division. But on the road to district, Blanchester (19-6) proved to be too big a barrier, especially after the Indians fell behind 3-0 after three innings.

Trailing 1-0, Carlisle pitcher Desirae Bryant (3-5) gave up three consecutive base hits in the third inning.

The third hit — a double by Lee — scored the game's second run.

A wild pitch scored the third run.

That was more than enough run support for Lee.

"This year, we've normally been either on or off (at the plate)," Back said. "Today we had a couple opportunities, but we couldn't make anything out of them."

Back scored the Indians' lone run, doubling to lead off the fifth and scoring on a groundout by junior Chelsea Boyer.

All three seniors — Back, third baseman Cortni Combs, and left fielder Rachel Smallwood — earned All-SWBL honors. Combs (.475 batting average) earned first-team honors, Smallwood (.467) earned second-team honors, and Back received honorable mention (.302).

"They're a solid team," Blanchester coach Jamey Grogg said. "They've had several good years in a row."

Blanchester plays the Anna-West Liberty-Salem winner at 11 a.m. Saturday in the D-III district championship at West Carrollton High School.

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