Hopkins, Oliver, Gray and Ausbrooks Lead AC-S to Opening Win

By Don Meador,
Sports Writer

Payton Hopkins and Brooklyn Oliver combined for four hits and two RBIs Maddie Gray added two RBIs, and Addison Ausbrooks allowed one run to lead the Allen County-Scottsville Lady Patriots to a 6-1 season-opening win Monday (March 17) over the Franklin-Simpson Lady Cats.

Franklin-Simpson pushed a run across in the home-half of the first. The Lady Patriots evened the contest in the top of the second. In her first at bat of the year, Gray blasted her seventh career home run over the left center wall to knot the game at one.

Ally Anderson’s one out double in the top of the third led to AC-S’s second score. Hopkins reached after being hit by a pitch with Oliver walking to load the bases. Gray stepped in the box and was also hit by a pitch–scoring Anderson from third.

AC-S worked their way out of trouble in the bottom of the fourth. With the Lady Cats having runners at first and second with one out, Gray, the AC-S catcher, pounced on a pitch in the dirt, retried the ball, and fired a strike to Lady Patriot third baseman Jacie Rice–gunning down Franklin-Simpson Chloe Smith as she attempted to steal third. Moments later, the Lady Cat batter grounded into an inning-ending out.

The Lady Patriots pushed a third run across with two outs in the fifth. Hopkins singled, moved to second on a wild pitch, and scored after Oliver singled to left field. The sixth inning brought AC-S’s next run. Aubrey Williams’ single started the inning. Haiden Brown followed with a bloop single–a play that first appeared to be a catch. As a result, Shiloh Knievel–running for Williams–was caught in limbo and forced out at second. A double by Addy Law followed to place Lady Patriot runners at second and third. Pinch-hitter Kinsley Byrn grounded out but the play allowed Brown to score from third, giving AC-S a 4-1 lead.

In the top of the seventh, Hopkins homered for the ninth time as a Lady Patriot to extend the lead. Oliver followed with a double. Finley Rice entered to run for Oliver and later scored for the team’s final run.

While the AC-S offense was combining for nine hits, Ausbrooks was holding Franklin-Simpson in check. The junior–returning to the team after not playing last season–worked five innings in the circle, allowing five hits.  She faced 19 batters, striking out three. Overall, Ausbrooks threw 70 pitches with 48 being strikes. The win was her 17th as a Lady Patriot.

AC-S (1-0) returns to the field Tuesday in a game at Logan County (1-0).

AC-S Defeats Logan County 8-1

The Allen County-Scottsville Lady Patriots plated eight runs on 12 hits Tuesday afternoon (March 18) in an 8-2 win at Logan County. For the second consecutive game, AC-S displayed their ability to put the ball in play and out of the park.

Leading the way for AC-S was Kinsley Byrn, Payton Hopkins, Maddie Gray, and Brooklyn Oliver. Byrn was three for three at the plate. Hopkins recorded two hits including a second home run in as many games. Gray also homered for a second game in a row–part of her two hit day. Oliver notched two hits in addition to earning the win in the circle. Jacie Rice led the team with three RBIs.

The Lady Patriots broke a scoreless tie in the top of the third. A single off the bat of Ally Anderson followed a two-out single by Kinsley Byrn. Jacie Rice plated Byrn and Anderson with a double to center field. The lead was short-lived as Logan tied the game in their third inning at bat.

AC-S retook the lead in the fourth on Gray’s solo home run. The Lady Patriots pushed four runs across the plate in the fifth. Addy Law opened with a double and moved to third on Byrn’s second single of the night. Law scored on a sacrifice bunt by Anderson. Rice reached base on an error that allowed Byrn to cross the plate. Hopkins followed with a two-RBI home run to lift the Lady Patriots to a 7-2 lead. The final AC-S run came in the seventh after singles from Hopkins, Oliver and Gray.

In the circle for the Lady Patriots, Oliver’s stat line was somewhat like a roller coaster. The sophomore hurler allowed 10 hits but countered with eight strikeouts. Logan County had runners on base in the first (after an error), the second (following two singles), the third (three singles), the fifth (two singles), the sixth (two singles), and seventh (a single and an error). However, key pitches by Oliver as well as made plays by the AC-S defense held the hosts to their two runs.

AC-S (2-0) returns to the diamond Saturday as Butler County (0-1) visits for a 2A Sectional game. First pitch is slated for 2:30. The winner advances in the 2A sectional tournament with a semifinal game in the weeks to come. The Lady Patriots host Cumberland County (1-0) on Monday and Bowling Green (1-0) on Tuesday.