SPRING VALLEY — If speed kills, it was downright deadly for Spring Valley on Thursday in a 9-6 Mountain State Athletic Conference softball win over St. Albans at the Wolves Den.
The Timberwolves’ speed on the base paths led to eight stolen bases, while on defense they easily tracked down fly balls to get outs, as well as balls hit into gaps to limit potential extra-base hits to singles.
St. Albans put together six runs on nine hits against the Spring Valley defense, though their own defense couldn’t stop the Timberwolves.
“We like to use the speed when we can,†Spring Valley coach Mick Osburn said. “Tonight, we were lucky and got our speed on base. A couple of games, we haven’t got our speed on base and that takes away some things.â€
Laykin Adkins was 1 for 3 at the plate for the Timberwolves but also reached on an error and was hit by a pitch. That led to three stolen bases and two runs for Spring Valley.
Kate Spry also stole two bases.
“They’ve got some pretty intense speed, and it shows,†St. Albans coach Katie Adams said of the Timberwolves. “It’s hard to keep them off base, and when once they get on, it’s almost like a double.â€
Spring Valley’s speed and defensive mistakes by the Red Dragons came into play from the get-go. Sydney Turner drew a walk from SA pitcher Ava Bentley and stole second base before Spry hit a fly ball to right that bounced out of the fielder’s glove. Both runners scored on the play to give Spring Valley a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
Adkins singled to lead off the second inning, stole second and third base and came home when the throw from SA’s catcher to third to get Adkins went past third baseman Paige White and into left field.
Emily Smith followed Adkins with a walk, stole second and came home on Kennedy Davis’ RBI single to make it 4-0.
St. Albans did finally answer Spring Valley — with power.
The Red Dragons had two home runs in the game by Cece Lackey, whose two-run shot in the fourth off Timberwolves (6-5) pitcher Addie Lowe cut the margin to 4-2.
Lackey’s sixth-inning solo home run off Riley Hedrick pulled SA within 9-6 of Spring Valley.
“We’ve been hitting the ball well all year. It’s just the timely hitting is the thing we’ve got to lock in on,†Adams said. “We get them on; now we just got to make sure we’re scoring them. Cece had a hell of a day. She’s just lockdown defense behind the plate; she’s a terror at the plate up to bat.â€
Lackey’s second homer set the final score as a five-run fourth inning by the Timberwolves proved to be too much to overcome for St. Albans (8-6).
Two walks and a hit batter by Bentley set the table for Hedrick to deliver a three-run home run. The next batter, Adkins, was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on a St. Albans error.
The Red Dragons committed four errors.
Bentley took the loss for St. Albans, giving up nine runs, seven earned, walking seven and hitting three batters. However, Bentley also struck out nine in the game.
Lowe pitched to two outs in the fourth before she was subbed out after SA cut the lead to 4-3. Lowe allowed five hits and walked three, giving up three runs, all earned.
Hedrick pitched the rest of the way for the Timberwolves, allowing four hits and walking three while allowing three runs, two of which were earned.
Layla Marshall led Spring Valley with two hits, including a double, and had an RBI. Davis was 1 for 2 with an RBI. Hedrick’s three RBIs led the Timberwolves.
Lackey paced SA with three RBIs on three hits, with two home runs and a single. Bentley had two hits and an RBI.
ST. ALBANS 002 121 0 — 6 9 4
SPRING VALLEY 220 500 x — 9 5 1
Bentley and Lackey; Lowe, Hedrick (4) and Jenkins.
Hitting: (SA) Lackey 3-3, 2 HR, 3 RBI; Bentley 2-4, RBI. (SV) Marshall 2-4; Hedrick 1-4, HR, 3 RBI; Adkins 1-3.
