El Dorado knocks off Hamburg 5-0
El Dorado’s Larran Simmons twirled a six-inning shutout Friday as the Lady Wildcats opened the Lady Cat Classic with a 5-0 win over Hamburg at the Union County Recreation Complex.
El Dorado, which improved to 4-2 on the season, manufactured all the offense it would need in the fourth and fifth innings, including a three-run fourth on just one base hit.
“I think that was probably one of our best efforts as far as complete games as far as hitting approach and defensively. I was proud of them overall,” said El Dorado coach Chris Ezell.
“We pitched well in the circle with Laraan. We got some good defensive plays behind them and we scored in some unconventional ways. I don’t think I’ve ever scored three runs without getting a ball out of the infield.”
Simmons struck out seven Hamburg batters, including some at criticial stages.
She got a strikeout with the bases loaded to end the second inning and also ended the third on a called third strike with a runner in scoring position.
The Lady Lions couldn’t score despite three hits in the fourth. Ashton Wells lined a single to lead off and was forced at second by Meredith Elam’s ground ball to short.
Skyler Mills and Mallory Rials both singled to load the bases. Ciara Tucker hit a fly ball to shallow center.
El Dorado’s Grace Murry made the running catch and tossed to second, catching the runner napping for the third out.
The Lady Wildcats broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the fourth. Payton Scarlett singled and Allyson Silmon walked.
Simmons reached on an error at second to load the bases. Lea Jones skied a pop up into foul territory between home and third.
Hamburg’s fielders collided with the catcher making the catch for the out.
Home plate was left wide open, however, and Scarlett alertly scooted home for the first run. Taylor Mayo followed with a pop up to shallow right.
The second baseman made the catch for the out but Silmon tagged and scored, sliding in safely at home when the throw got past the catcher.
Simmons slid in with the third run, safely when the throw from the catcher bounced off the pitcher’s glove at the plate.
El Dorado never squared up the bats against Hamburg pitcher Kendall Herring.
So, the Lady Wildcats went with the small ball in the fifth.
Jae Peterson and Murry both beat out bunt singles to start the inning and both came around to score. Peterson scored on an error and Murry went home on a wild pitch.
Ezell said the bunt is always a weapon in El Dorado’s arsenal.
“If a team is going to give it to you, you always want to start off with that,” he said.
“So, we decided to put a little pressure on them and see if we could use our speed to our advantage.”
Simmons would strike out three of the last five batters she faced, including two in the bottom of the sixth, which is where the game ended on time limit.