Brock Netter, Editor
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
PEEBLES — Peebles’ softball program was flying high until around two weeks ago.
What started with a narrow loss to North Adams on April 23 spiraled into four straight losses, forcing the Indians to lose some of their mojo.
And although the timing couldn’t have been any worse for a slump, the Indians are beginning to turn it around at the right time.
On Thursday, in a critical league contest, Peebles controlled the pace, didn’t panic in the face of adversity and had an answer in the closing moments to seal a 7-4 victory over Fairfield.
“The girls played really well and what I’m most happy about is that they stayed positive, even when Fairfield tied the game late and came right back at them,” Peebles coach Amanda Myers said. “That was something we struggled with midseason where, if we got down or tied, then the momentum went the other way and stayed. But this was different, we kept battling and swung the bats really well.”
CREDIT: Brock Netter/SOSA
The win avenges an earlier-season loss to the Lions, and keeps Peebles (16-5, 9-3 SHAC II) in the hunt for at least a share of the SHAC II championship.
“This was a huge game for us. There’s a chance we’re going to run into [Fairfield] again in the tournament, and we already lost to them once this season,” Myers said. “We didn’t hit the ball at all in that first matchup, so we needed that confidence win under our belts and we got it.”
After escaping a jam early with two Lion runners on, Peebles saw and took an opportunity to take an early lead.
Following a one-out double from Jerzi Tong, Kendall Myers stepped up and roped an RBI double into left field. She later scored on a fielder’s choice via Kaelyn Musser, giving the Indians a 2-0 lead.
That momentum continued in the bottom of the second.
A fielding error put an Indian runner on and Josie McGhee drove her in with an RBI double before Tong recorded an RBI single, scoring McGhee to extend the lead to 4-0.
“We’re starting to get our stride back at the perfect time, and it’s great to see everyone putting a bat on the ball,” Myers said. “It feels like everything is starting to come together now. We struggled with different things at different times throughout the year, but now that it’s May, we’re putting everything together.”
It was all Musser for the next three innings.
Already with five strikeouts to her credit, she added five more with one each in the third and fourth, before striking out the side in the fifth.
However, Fairfield (16-8, 9-4 SHAC II) wasn’t done battling yet.
In the top of the second, three straight singles loaded the bases and Alyssa Bales notched an RBI single to put the Lions on the board.
Following a pair of strikeouts, Layla Howard stepped to the dish and took an 0-1 pitch for a ride to deep left field that cleared the bases for a three-run double, tying the game at 4-4.
Peebles didn’t panic though. It just got the bats out and continued to swing.
WIth two outs and a runner on, Musser stepped to the dish and ripped an RBI single to put Peebles back in the lead. Riley Byers then notched an RBI single of her own, and scored off another RBI single from Kendall Young, to make it 7-4 before slamming the door shut on a critical victory.
“It was a new ballgame heading into the bottom of the sixth. We were in control for so long, and now we were faced with some adversity,” Myers said. “The girls did such a great job battling back, putting the ball in play and giving themselves a chance to take back momentum. Everyone contributed from the players in the field to the dugout. It was a complete team effort.”
Musser earned the win in the circle, tossing a complete game, allowing four earned runs and striking out 15 batters. She was also 1-for-2 with two RBIs.
Tong went 3-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI, Myers was 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI, and McGhee was 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
For Fairfield, Howard finished 1-for-3 with a double and three RBIs.
Peebles defeated Whiteoak on Friday and returns to action on Tuesday at home against Federal Hocking. Fairfield took a loss to Manchester on Friday, and faces Belpre at home on Tuesday.
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