Friday, April 26, 2024
Lipan softball celebrates 18-10 win over Hamilton in first game of best-of-three series
GLEN ROSE - The Lipan Lady Indians got a lift from an unlikely player in their 18-10 spanking of Hamilton in the opening game of the best-of-three softball playoffs.
Junior varsity freshman Sarah Marcantonio had been showing promise so coach Tony Phillips decided to bring her up to the varsity for the playoff match Thursday evening.
It paid off.
Lipan trailed 6-3 in third inning when Marcantonio stepped to the plate and knocked a three-run double to square the game 6-6 and shift the momentum to the Lady Indians. It was her first varsity hit, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
“She’s looked good at practice so we went with her tonight and she did a great job,” Phillips said.
Lipan erupted for seven more runs in the fourth inning and held on for the eight-run victory.
The Lady Indians took advantage of the Hamilton pitchers who had trouble finding the strike zone in the steady drizzle. The Lady Bulldogs walked 18 batters. “There really wasn’t much to hit early. We told them to be patient,” Phillips said.
Lipan freshman pitcher Neali Overton walked only two. “The wet ball got her early too, but she was patient. She did a good job throwing strikes,” Phillips said.
Mercantonio added two singles to her double to lead the Lipan hitters. Abby Clyburn smacked a triple and single, Overton cracked a double, and Ashlyn Clark, Savannah Green and Jolee Tuggle each hit a single.
Phillips said his squad played well in district but had trouble finishing games. “We kinda put one together tonight,” he said.
Lipan will win bidistrict with a victory tonight (Friday, April 30) in the second game set for 5:30 in Glen Rose. The third game, if necessary, will be Saturday, May 1, at noon, also in Glen Rose.
Lipan 204 704 1 – 18 9 1
Hamilton 510 004 0 – 10 12 1
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