Photos by Rick Nation
By Bridget Bauer
BRYANT–Sheridan pounded out 15 hits while Bryant swatted just four in the Lady Hornets’ 8-2 conference loss Tuesday.
Kerrigan Allen delivers a pitch during Tuesday’s game. (Photo by Rick Nation)
Bryant Coach Debbie Clark knew Sheridan would have no trouble hitting the ball as the Lady Yellowjackets, unbeaten in South Conference play and 20-1 overall coming in, are known for that part of their game. She was hoping a David vs. Goliath tactic would work.
“They are well-known (for hitting),” Clark said. “I gave each of the seniors a stone and tried to compare this to David versus Goliath.”
Clark said the Lady Hornets (13-6, 7-3 6A/7A-South) didn’t see Sheridan’s pitcher last year. Sheridan Coach Eddie Paul Woodall had heard Bryant was better so decided he needed to use her.
“He told me as soon as he saw us in warm-ups he knew we were much improved over last year,” Clark said. “Their pitcher was hitting the outside corner.”
For two innings the contest was scoreless before Sheridan recorded three runs in the top of the third frame. In the bottom of the stanza, Macey Jaramillo whacked Bryant’s first single with two outs but couldn’t get any farther than first. The Lady Yellowjackets added two more runs in the top of the fourth for a 5-0 lead. Over the first four frames, Sheridan was consistent with two hits in each inning.
Bryant finally scored in the fifth and tallied both of its runs. Presli Pendergrass walked and scored on Katy Stillman’s RBI double. Tori Hernandez sandwiched a single between Pendergrass and Stillman and scored on an error for the second run. Kayla Jolley recorded Bryant’s other hit.
“We made adjustments and were able to hit the ball when they listened to what I told them,” Clark said. “To hit the ball, I wanted them to move up to the front of the batter’s box and move up to the plate to try and catch the ball before the curve.”
A positive for the Lady Hornets was they didn’t commit one error while Sheridan was guilty of four.
Bryant travels to Sheridan for an make-up game on Thursday then heads to Texarkana on Friday.
