QUEEN CITY, Mo. - Schuyler County worked out of an early bases-loaded jam, then wasted little time taking control Thursday night as the Lady Rams defeated Atlanta 15-0 in the Class 1, District 5 quarterfinals at Schuyler County High School. The second-seeded Lady Rams scored four runs in the first inning and added 11 in the second, backing a three-inning, one-hit shutout from freshman Clara Dabney.
Atlanta had an opportunity to get on the board before Schuyler County ever came to the plate. After Dabney retired the first two hitters, Megan Peavler reached on a hit by pitch and stole second. Whitney Baker followed with a walk, and London Smith singled through the infield to load the bases. Dabney answered by striking out Lexie Ross, leaving all three runners stranded and keeping the game scoreless.
Maddox Berry immediately got the Lady Rams moving in the bottom of the first, driving a double off the left-field fence. Halle Roberts followed with a bunt single, putting runners at the corners, and moved to second without a throw. Greta Schoonover then drove a ball into center field for a two-run double, bringing both runners home for a 2-0 Schuyler County lead.
The Lady Rams continued to add on after Jalee Snowbarger was hit by a pitch. A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position, and Dabney lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to score Schoonover. Snowbarger later crossed the plate on a throw to second as Atlanta caught Trinity Gray stealing, giving Schuyler County a 4-0 advantage after one inning.
Dabney settled into a quick second inning, getting three consecutive groundouts with help from Snowbarger at third and Berry at shortstop. The Lady Rams then returned to the plate and put together the inning that decided the game, combining five hits with hit batters, wild pitches and Atlanta errors to send 17 batters to the plate.
Jesslyn Herring started the rally with a one-out single, and Berry followed with her second double of the night, this one down the left-field line to bring Herring home. Roberts and Schoonover were both hit by pitches to load the bases, prompting Atlanta to bring Peavler into the circle in relief of starter Bella Baker.
Schuyler County kept the pressure on as Berry scored on a wild pitch and Snowbarger was hit by another pitch to reload the bases. Two more wild pitches brought Roberts and Schoonover home, and Snowbarger scored when Dabney reached on an infield throwing error. Gray followed with an RBI double into the gap, pushing the lead to 10-0.
The rally continued through the bottom of the order and back to the top. Maybelle Lusher scored during a throw to second, Berry added an RBI single, and Roberts delivered a two-run triple to center field. Roberts then scored on a wild pitch to give the Lady Rams their 15-0 lead.
Atlanta put a runner aboard to begin the third when Jada Nelson reached on an error and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Dabney struck out Memphis White before Peavler grounded out to second, moving Nelson to third. With Atlanta needing a run to extend the game, Whitney Baker grounded to Berry at shortstop, and the throw to first finished the shutout and the run-rule victory.
Berry led Schuyler County’s eight-hit attack with a 3-for-3 night that included two doubles, two RBIs and three runs scored. Roberts went 2-for-2 with a triple, two RBIs and three runs, while Schoonover doubled, drove in two and scored twice. Gray added an RBI double, Herring singled and scored twice, and Dabney was credited with two RBIs.
Dabney needed just 37 pitches to complete her three innings, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out three. Smith’s first-inning single accounted for Atlanta’s only hit. Bella Baker took the loss, allowing eight runs in 1 1/3 innings, while Peavler worked the final two-thirds of an inning and allowed seven runs, one earned.
Schuyler County improved to 13-11 and advanced to Saturday’s district semifinals, earning a matchup with the winner of Canton and Knox County. Atlanta finished its season at 10-8.
(This game recap is presented based upon the coverage of the Hometown Radio Sports Network. Any statistics given should be deemed as unofficial.)
