The Benton Rangerettes (16-10) looked unchallenged against the Indians when they visited Johnston City on Thursday afternoon.
With help from an early 2-run home run by Lacey Jerkins, the Rangerettes walked away with a 13-0 win over the home team.
"We came out and really hit the ball well… our bats have been on vacation lately so it was good to score some runs," said Ryan Miller, Rangerettes' coach. "We pitched the ball great and made plays where we needed them to… we've struggled a time or two, but we got out of some jams."
The Rangerettes got on the board early led by senior Ally Gischer who bunted and outran the throw. She scored thanks to a base hit by Courtney Reno.
This brought Jerkins to the plate and she launched the ball clear over the center field wall for the home run.
"It's good to see her hit a ball solid like that," Miller said. "She's been slumping a little bit so it was good to see her hit a ball like that."
One more run came in the first inning as a result of an RBI base hit by freshman Zoe Carlton.
Fellow freshman Kiley Carter went to the mound for the Rangerettes where she held her ground--giving up only three hits, hitting one batter, three walks and earning six strike outs.
Her teammates in the field defended their pitcher well whenever they got the chance. In the bottom of the first, Gischer, Jerkins and Reno executed a double-play to shut down the offensive push by the Indians.
Even catcher Cristen Shaw performed well behind the plate; in the second inning, she picked off a base runner attempting to steal second by throwing to Jerkins who applied the tag. Later in the third inning, Shaw and third baseman Eb Casey got an Indians' base runner in a rundown which resulted in an out.
The best offensive attempt by the Indians came in the fourth inning when a possible triple was hit to left field. Carlton missed the catch, but then threw to her cutoff man and then to Casey who waited at third base. The throw came in time and Casey made the tag to get the out.
The rest of the game was all Rangerettes who added another run in the second inning--thanks to Gischer who stole home on a Jerkins pop fly to right field--to bring them to 5-0.
The score remained that way through the third inning, but the team in maroon made up for it in the fourth inning where they doubled their score.
Every Rangerettes' batter touched the ball in the fourth, starting with Carlton who hit a blooper to center field. Then, Carter and Gischer got on to load the bases for Reno. She hit an RBI single to right field to bring home Carlton and keep the bases loaded.
Shaw took her turn on the base and hit an RBI single which turned into a double to left field allowing Carter to score. Then, Gischer against stole home for another run.
This left Reno and Shaw on base when Baylie Sawyer came up to bat. She popped and RBI single to right field bringing in both base runners to end the scoring in the fourth.
Likewise in the fifth inning, the Rangerettes' bats did some damage. They added their last three runs to end the game by slaughter rule.
The Rangerettes loaded the bases again and Shaw hit an RBI single to left field. Then, Kaitlyn Kuchar (pinch running for Carter) stole home on a wild pitch. Finally, Casey knocked an RBI single into left field to bring home Reno and end the scoring.
The Rangerettes have one more regular season game before competing in the IHSA Class 2A West Frankfort Regional--they play at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 16 against the Harrisburg Bulldogs.
"I'd like to hope it is [a confidence booster]," Miller said of the victory. "We're going to have to hit the ball well like we did today [in the post season]. Another thing I liked to see is we bunted well… we're going to have to continue to do that and make some good plays in the field."
