HARROD – Let it snow.
That was the theme of the day at Allen East, in which a 2-inch snowfall early Monday morning didn’t stop the Mustangs from banging the ball around.
In spite of the frigid wind chills, Allen East was able to pound out an 11-4 softball victory over Upper Scioto Valley on Monday at Allen East.
While the snow was no longer visible, the infield was soft in spots and the outfield was definitely on the soggy/mushy side.
Even without ideal weather conditions, Allen East had nine hits on the day.
The Mustangs’ Chloe Lawrence hit a solo home run, which gave her team the lead to stay 5-4 in the home fifth.
Allen East is 2-2. It was the opener for USV.
Allen East first-year coach Paul Patton had mixed emotions after the game.
“I coached at USV last year, so I have feelings for them,” Patton said. “I know most of their kids. But I coach here now.
“We know we can hit the ball and I think we proved that as the game went on.’’
For Allen East, leadoff hitter Alex Briley went 2 for 4 with a double. Lakin Basham was 2 for 3 with a double and two RBI.
Lawrence had a home run and two RBI. Riley Newland went 2 for 4 with two doubles and three RBI.
Lawrence pitched the first four innings and gave up two runs, none earned, on four hits. She struck out five and walked three.
“It was a little tough (to pitch) because it’s a little cold outside and the mound was wet,” Lawrence said. “It’s hard, but you have to push through it.’’
Lawrence left with a 4-2 lead after four.
Newland picked up the win by tossing the final three innings, giving up two runs, one earned, on one hit. She struck out five and walked two.
Newland started slowly, but retired the final seven batters she faced, five on strikeouts.
“We wanted to give them a change of pace,” Patton said of the pitching change. “Riley (Newland) throws a little faster than Chloe and is a little different pitcher. She finished strong.’’
The Mustangs took a 3-0 lead in the first. Basham hit a parachute, two-run double down the right-field line to make it 2-0. Lawrence’s RBI groundout to third made it 3-0.
Allen East led 4-0 after two, but the Rams scored two in the third and two in the fifth to tie the game at 4.
In the third inning, the Rams’ Rylee Shepherd and Madison Dunifon both had RBI singles.
“I thought we played overall well, defensively, (only two errors),” USV coach Nick Hurley said. “This is our first game of the year. We hadn’t practice since last Tuesday. We had a water issue at the school and the school was closed down.
“And we’re young. We have one senior, three juniors and the rest are freshmen and sophomores. I was proud of our girls today. We didn’t quit.’’
Lawrence led off the fifth and hit a 3-2 pitch over the left-field fence to give the Mustangs a 5-4 lead.
“I was waiting for my pitch,” Lawrence said of her home run. “Then, she left it down the middle (on 3-2) and I cranked it out. … I knew it (was gone).’’
Allen East scored five in the sixth to finish it off at 11-4.
The big hit was a three-run double by Newland to give the Mustangs a 9-4 lead.
USV sophomore Jozlynn Ross went the distance for the Rams, giving up 11 runs, 10 earned, on nine hits.
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