FREDERICKTOWN — Hitting may be key when it comes to softball, but timely hitting is even more important.
Fredericktown outhit Danville on Friday, but it was the timeliness of the Blue Devils hits that helped propel them to a 10-3 victory in a Mid-Buckeye Conference game at Fredericktown.
“We rocked the house tonight,” said Danville coach Mary Ellen Matheny. “We hit the ball well. We had some big timely hits. It’s something we’ve struggled with, but we looked real good tonight.”
The Blue Devils (3-2 overall, 2-1 MBC) managed just two hits in the first inning, but were able to score three times. Jess Blubaugh led off the inning with a walk, then moved up two bases on two wild pitches and scored on a Fredericktown error. Morgan Lauderbaugh then smashed a triple to deep left field to score Darci Lauderbaugh, who had reached safely on the error. Another wild pitch scored Morgan Lauderbaugh and it looked like it was going to be a long night for the Freddies (1-4, 1-2).
The Devils added four more in the top of the second on just three hits and looked like they might blow the game wide open. Samie McFadden led off the inning with a single, but was forced out at home after Blubaugh and Darci Lauderbaugh both reached safely. Another single by Morgan Lauderbaugh plated Blubaugh, then Darci Lauderbaugh scored on a wild pitch.
Rice and Morgan Lauderbaugh were then able to score on a groundout by Morgan Sinnett. Rice, who was on third base, beat the throw home from Fredericktown first baseman Taylor Keener. That throw got away from the catcher, Jess Gable, allowing Lauderbaugh to score.
