PHS Softball Splits Trinity;
Won Game One 6-3 Then Fell 8-7 in Game Two
by Dennis Gonzales & The Pratt Tribune
April 23, 2008
PHS varsity softball coach Mike Forshee felt his Lady Greenbacks had opportunities against Hutchinson Trinity Tuesday. But, failing to capitalize on opportunities cost the Lady Greenbacks a sweep of the Celtics.
PHS won game one 6-3 then fell 8-7 in game two. Down 8-7 entering the top of the seventh in game two, Forshee felt his team had an opportunity to tie or overtake the Celtics.
Why?
The top of Lady Greenbacks' lineup was due up. Laramie Inslee began the inning with a walk. Rebecca Slief then executed a sacrifice bunt. Inslee displaying her speed and hustle charged to third. The Lady Greenbacks had an opportunity. Unfortunately, Inslee did not make it home.
The Celtics replaced starter Tasha Baker with game-one starter Jette Higgins. Higgins forced Ashton Neumann to fly out and struck out Heather Goertz to end the game.
"We had some opportunities. We had plenty of opportunities in both games," said Forshee. "Mental things are hurting us, little things. We have worked on hit and run and hitting the ball on the ground, in those types of situations (game-two seventh inning).
We struggled getting our bunts in that first game. Mental stuff. It is frustrating."
In game one, Pratt trailed 1-0 heading into the top of the second. RBI singles by Brooke Blankenship and Rebecca Slief along with a Trinity error jumped PHS in front 3-1.
The Celtics slashed their deficit to one, 3-2, after one, but Inslee's RBI single and another Trinity error pushed the Lady Greenbacks' lead to three, 5-2.
"I thought we did some things well," said Forshee of game one. "We played pretty good defense. I thought we hung in there. I think our defense kept us in the game."
Blankenship gave up 11 hits, walked one, and struck out five.
Katie Hoover and Higgins singled with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but Blankenship forced Monica Hill to ground out to Rebecca Slief at third, ending the threat. Blankenship had some help through the seven-inning effort. PHS turned three double plays.
Pratt led 4-2 in the top of the second of game two. Goertz's two-run double snapped a 2-2 tie. The bottom half of the inning the lead evaporated quickly.
Trinity erupted for five runs on four hits to jump in front 7-4.
The Lady Greenbacks rallied. Hannah Melichar scored on a Celtic error in the third to draw PHS to within two, 7-5. Kelsey Roberts's double drove in Haley Pevateaux, who had singled. Inslee then brought home Roberts, forging a 7-7 tie. Higgins' fielder's choice broke the tie and provided Trinity with the one run that PHS could not erase.
The Lady Greenbacks were stingy the final four innings of both games, allowing two runs. Their offense didn't seize on the Celtics' non-production. PHS matched Trinity's two runs.
Pratt left five players on base the final four innings of game two. They stranded four during the same period in game one.
"It is execution," said Forshee about capitalizing on opportunities. "It is just mental focus, doing what you are asked to do is kind of what it comes down to."
"We have to understand we've got to play two games," he added. "Some of them are playing two games. We didn't have nine girls playing two games today. That disappoints me, especially how we worked the last few days, last week, and yesterday."
The Lady Greenbacks are now 6-6.
They will look to creep over .500 when they host Wichita East Friday, April 25. The doubleheader's first pitch at Green Sports Complex is scheduled for 4 p.m.
PHS Softball Splits Trinity;
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