Northwestern gets the big hits in win

Whip’s sacrifice fly scores two in the fifth inning and the Warriors hold on for a 3-2 victory.

Northwestern’s Annalise Casey (right) collides with Shawnee catcher Brianna Miller during a game Thursday, April 23, at Shawnee High School. Northwestern won the game 3-2. For more photos from the game, check out SpringfieldNewsSun.com/sports. Staff photo by Barbara J. Perenic

ENLARGE PHOTO

By Michael Cooper, Staff Writer Updated 12:45 PM Friday, April 24, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — Missy Johnson has been preaching the big hit to her squad all season.

With her Northwestern High School softball team leaving too many runners on base for her liking, the Warriors softball coach has harped about making something happen with runners in scoring position.

The Warriors made it happen with the bats on Thursday, April 23, in a 3-2 Central Buckeye Conference crossover division victory at Shawnee.

In the top of the fifth inning with runners on second and third and the score tied at 1, freshman Miranda Whip hit a sacrifice fly to center fielder Marta Lockwood, whose throw home caromed off the glove of catcher Brianna Miller, allowing two runs to score and give the Warriors a 3-1 advantage.

“We’ve left a lot of runners (on base) on this season,” Johnson said. “We’ve been telling them you’ve got to pull through and get that clutch hit. I’m proud of them. All the girls swung the bat well tonight.”

Whip was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and Sarah Overholser had a double as the Warriors improved to 8-2 and 3-2 in the CBC Mad River.

Sami Smiddy went 2-for-3 with a double for Shawnee, which fell to 8-4 and 2-3 in the CBC Kenton Trail, just one day removed from beating division rival Tippecanoe 2-1.

The Braves, however, wouldn’t go down without a fight. With one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, Shawnee got three consecutive singles from Shelby Griffith, Ashley Dalton and Kelby Kittles to load the bases.

Brittany Brake then singled the first pitch from Northwestern pitcher Erica Roberts to pull the Braves within one run.

The next batter, Allison Schaefer, grounded out to the shortstop. Then, Marta Lockwood hit a fly ball to right field that was caught by Northwestern freshman Taylor Keplinger to save the day for the Warriors.

“It got a little exciting at the end,” Johnson said. “But we’ve been telling them to step up on defense on the off days and they pulled through.”

Johnson was happy to leave with a victory.

“It’s a big win,” Johnson said. “We knew coming in they were hard to beat, especially at home. Shawnee came up to bat and had some nice pokes, but our defense pulled through and we got some crucial hits.”

Shawnee coach Larry Spahr was proud of the way his squad never gave up. They had runners in scoring position the final two innings.

“We never quit the whole ballgame,” Spahr said. “We kept coming and coming. We played as one. That’s been our focus. Everybody contributed and did a good job. We played a good ballclub.”

»Graham silences KR  Prep roundup on Page B3

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