SHS softballers outlast Clear Fork in 14-11 slugfest

Shelby overcame a deficits of five and four runs and rode a six-run fifth inning to a 14-11 varsity softball win against Mid Ohio Athletic Conference champion Clear Fork Wednesday.

The Colts (18-8) were looking to run the table in the league and built leads of 8-3 and 11-7. The Lady Whippets would have nothing of it as the visitors completed MOAC play at 11-1.

SHS won its second game in as many days to conclude league play at 5-7. The red and gray will carry an 11-15 record along with some momentum into Friday’s sectional championship game at Bellevue.

Shelby’s go-ahead rally in the fifth inning was highlighted by Mallary Gundrum’s three-run homer which vaulted the home team in front 13-11. The dinger was the freshman’s sixth of the spring.

The Whippets’ fifth inning featured a RBI single by Demi Hipp and a two-run single by Sadie Smith.

SHS finished the encounter with a 15-13 advantage in hits. Smith and Lexi Thompson led the way with three singles apiece and Demi Hipp smashed a triple and a single to go with four RBI. Raegan Gurney had two hits. Gundrum, Kaitlynn Winters, Alyssa Neill, Kendal Parsons and Megan Grass all had one each.

Winters, in relief, gained the win. She allowed four runs on four hits with one strikeout and four walks in three innings. Alexis Booker started and yielded seven runs on eight hits with one strikeout and three walks. Megan Grass finished with two innings of work and allowed just one hit.

The sectional game will start 5 p.m. Friday at Bellevue.