SPARTA — Highland pitcher Brittany Messmer fired a two-hitter and helped her own cause with a two-out solo homer to left in the third to lead the Fighting Scots to a 7-2 win over Cardington in Division III Central District Sectional Tournament action on Tuesday.
“She is an awesome pitcher,” said Highland (15-8) coach Shelly Hornsby. “She does such a great job for us. She’s a good leader as well with just her attitude alone. She’s just a phenomenal athlete. We really appreciate what she does for this team.”
We’ve never made it very far in the tournament,” said Messmer. “As a senior, I want to end my year good. I know we can do it and I know we can go real far. We have a good team and we can go as far as we want. I just went out there with a positive attitude and I knew I had a good team to back me up. I just did what I had to do.”
Messmer’s homer, her first of the season, was one of two for the Scots as battery mate McKenzi Rhodes blasted a one out solo shot in the second inning to tie the game at 1.
“That was my first time around this season,” said Messmer. “I was pretty excited.”
Right fielder Katie Johnson followed Rhodes with a triple to left. She scored the go-ahead run on a single by leftfielder Shayla Pierce.
After Messmer’s third-inning blast made it a 3-1 game, she came back to lead the Scots to four more runs in the fifth. Messmer hit a one-out double to left, driving home third baseman Jessie Stewart, and scoring herself on a throwing error.
Scots’ first baseman Payton Denman followed with a double and Rhodes followed her by reaching on an error. Pierce doubled them both home to make it a 7-1 Scots’ advantage. Pierce had three RBI for the game.
“We did really good with our hitting today,” said Messmer. “I was really proud. Lately, we’ve been struggling with our hitting, but today we came through.”
“Our hitting was outstanding today,” said Hornsby. “When one steps up, it seems like they all step up. I stressed so many times, not to get down and that the team has got to pick each other up and that’s what they did tonight. They didn’t let it get to their heads or dwell on a strikeout or a missed ball. They came out ready to play today.”
The Pirates got a run in the sixth on a pair of singles to break up the no-hitter before Messmer set them down the rest of the way.
“Coach just told me to bring it because I’ve been having some back problems, but I didn’t want that to affect my game,” said Messmer. “She just said that if they do hit it, I have a good defense to back me up. It always helps me when the coach comes out. It gives me more confidence. She makes me take my mind off of what I did wrong.”
The Scots move on, traveling to Jonathan Alder on Thursday. Preparation for the Scots continues to be a labor of love.
“We just try to focus on the thing that we love and that’s softball,” said Hornsby. “If there is anyone who loves that it’s Brittany. We love the game and Brittany comes out here and works hard everyday. That’s what it takes to be a pitcher like her.”
