Troy softball drops two to Plains-Hot Springs

Mother Nature held off the thunderstorms Friday afternoon and evening long enough for the Troy High School softball team to host and finish their doubleheader against the Plains-Hot Springs Savage Heat. The Lady Trojans dropped both games but even the ensuing rain showers couldn’t have dampened the smiles and spirit of the hosts and their fans as they said goodbye to their three seniors on senior day at the ballfield.

Kylie Carr, Alyssa Lewis and Taylor Carter were honored in between games before they set foot on the field for their last home game.

“I know it’s cliche for a coach to say it, but I wish I had one more year with these seniors,” said Troy coach Keith Haggerty. “They all brought something that the team needed and had great attitudes, they will be missed.”

The Lady Trojans were backed into a corner early in game one as the Savage Heat were just that on the basepaths. One through nine in Plains’ lineup could run, and run quickly. They used that to their advantage, running around the bases before the host Lady Trojans adjusted to their team speed. Plains took extra bases at every opportunity putting a lot of pressure on Troy’s defense.

After getting the first batter out, a combination of two walks, two singles, and the Savage Heat’s speed produced three runs in the first inning against Carr. Kaylee Tunison then showed some speed of her own taking some extra bases in the Lady Trojans half of the first inning, coming all the way around after a single to cut the Plains lead to two. That was as close as the Lady Trojans would get as Plains exploded in the second inning for eight runs.

The Savage Heat once again used their speed to score their runs. They sent 12 batters to the plate in the inning. They had only four hits, of which only two reached the outfield grass, but they were aided by two Troy errors and three free passes. When the Lady Trojans came to bat in their half of the second inning they found themselves down 11-1.

Troy plated another runner in the second inning before coming up with four more in the third inning. Three straight one out hits began their four run burst. Carr hit her second double of the game before Grace Dolan pushed her across with a scorching double of her own. Lewis then knocked Dolan in with a laser shot. A few batters later Carter came up with two out and delivered a clutch two run single.

“Taylor just came out for softball this year, she has gotten better and better with experience, and she’s always in a great mood,” said Haggerty.

Plains tacked on five more runs in the fifth and sixth innings, and held Troy scoreless, ending the game after six innings, 17-6. Carr took the loss for the Lady Trojans, but had three hits and scored a run.

“Kylie has been so steady for us, and has pitched nonstop; she really is a workhorse, and I’m not sure how we are going to replace her next year,” said Haggerty.

Tunison also chipped in three hits and scored a run for the Lady Trojans, and Carter led the team with two RBIs.

Plains pitcher Jess Thompson kept her spell over the Lady Trojans, holding them scoreless for two innings in the second game before being relieved. Thompson also terrorized Troy at the plate. After collecting three hits and two RBIs in the first game, she knocked in three more runs on two hits in the nightcap, including a two run home run over the left-center field fence.

However, the Trojan bats tagged Thompson with five runs in the top of the third inning. Troy was down 6-0 when they sent 12 batters to the plate and closed the gap with five runs. The big blows in the inning came from Lewis and Tristyn Winebark each with run scoring hits.

Winebark took over the pitching duties for Carr in the second inning and had her best outing of the season. She gave up three runs on only four hits before tiring out, giving way to Lewis in the fifth. Winebark had two hits and three RBIs in the game as well.

Plains looked like they put the game away with seven runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to make it 16-7, but the Lady Trojans weren’t done swinging the bats. They picked up six runs in the sixth inning , four of them on two run singles from both Winebark and Dolan.

The Savage Heat scored four in their half of the sixth, and Troy tacked on another run in the seventh making for a 20-14 final score.

Dolan scored three runs for Troy, had two hits and knocked in three. Winebark had three RBIs on two hits. Lewis added two hits to complete Troy’s six hits in the game. Lewis also had three RBIs, including a two-run triple in the fourth inning.

“Alyssa brought some power to our lineup, some steady play at shortstop, she has a great personality, and socializes well with everyone on and off the field,” said Haggerty.

The Trojans had little recovery time as they were to be on the bus early Saturday for a trip to Eureka for another doubleheader.