HARTVILLE –– The Houston High School softball team’s historic season ended in the sectional round of the state playoffs.
Two days after winning the program’s first-ever district championship, the Lady Tigers managed just two hits and made costly mistakes last Wednesday in a 5-2 loss to Hartville in the Class 2 sectionals.
Although his team didn’t play its best, first-year coach Brent Hall said one game wouldn’t overshadow all that the 2012 HHS softball team accomplished.
“I’m proud of them. That’s what I told the girls,” Hall said. “Considering everything they went through –– losing Maddie Vandiver and the unexpected accident with Belle (Knarr) –– the girls made it a great season instead of cashing it in and thinking, ‘Well, things didn’t go our way.’ They persevered.”
The Lady Tigers (11-7) finished with a winning record for the first time since they began competing during the fall season in 2009. They also matched the 2010 team with a program-best 11 victories despite losing two tournaments and a regular-season game to inclement weather.
With just one player –– senior pitcher Kayla Kelley –– departing the team, Hall said the standard has been set for the program.
“To me, a district championship is expected next year,” he said. “We’ve got a good core returning, and hopefully Belle can heal enough to get back on the field and contribute.
“I think we can move even deeper next year.”
The Houston offense, which scored 17 times in the district championship victory against Willow Springs, sputtered in the sectional round. The Lady Tigers managed just two hits –– both by reigning all-stater Taylor Franklin –– and four baserunners.
Mistakes also cost the Lady Tigers. HHS committed four errors that led to three unearned runs. Two of the miscues occurred in the fourth inning as Hartville scored three times to take the lead.
“We made the same mistakes that were the reasons we lost games earlier in the year –– silly errors that gave them extra opportunities,” Hall said. “It proved to be the difference in the game.”
Franklin gave the Lady Tigers an early advantage when she lined an 0-2 fastball over the left-field fence in the top of the first.
Hartville, which out-hit HHS 9-2, scored a run in the bottom of the inning to tie it. The game remained tied 1-all until the Lady Tigers’ fourth-inning miscues led to three Hartville.
Houston trailed 5-1 before Olivia Woosley reached on a throwing error and scored when Franklin, who was 2-for-3, doubled to center.
Kelley gave up five runs –– two earned –– in the complete-game loss. She struck out two and walked none.
“They were just the better team that day,” Hall said.
——
| Houston | 100 | 001 | 0 | – | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Hartville | 100 | 310 | x | – | 5 | 9 | 1 |
HOUSTON (ab-r-h-bi) –– Walker 2b 3-0-0-0. Woosley c 3-1-0-0. Franklin ss 3-1-2-2. Kelley p 3-0-0-0. Swindell 1b 3-0-0-0. Preheim 3b 2-0-0-0. Sears rf 2-0-0-0. Dodson cf 2-0-0-0. Harrison lf 2-0-0-0. Totals 23-2-2-2.
HARTVILLE (ab-r-h-bi) –– Petty ss 4-1-1-1. Hardcastle 2b 3-0-1-0. Horn 3b 4-0-0-0. Simmons cf 3-0-2-1. Ipock c 3-0-1-0. Pitts lf 3-1-1-0. Petty 1b 3-1-1-0. Payne dp 3-1-2-2. Hicks rf 3-1-1-1. Totals 29-5-9-5.
2B: Franklin. 3B: Hardcastle, Payne. HR: Franklin. SAC: Hardcastle.
| Houston | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
| Kelley, L | 6 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Hartville | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
| Wallard, W | 7 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 |