Solid execution leads to shutout win for Lady Leopards against Camden-fairview
AUDREY CARR EARNS VICTORY FROM STELLAR PITCHING PERFORMANCE KATELYN MINGE POWERS HOME RUN TO PRODUCE HIGHLIGHT HIT IN VICTORY
MALVERN — The No. 3 seed hometown Malvern Lady Leopards shined in a spectacular way Saturday to officially clinch their spots to the big dance on the diamond as state tournament qualifiers after their total domination performance in a shutout victory against No. 2 seed Camden-fairview Lady Cardinals 14-0 in the 4A South Regional Softball Tournament hosted at Malvern National Bank Stadium.
The Lady Leopards had their execution intact behind a productive duo of pitching in the circle from Audrey Carr and Katelyn Minge. Carr earned the victory and pitched five innings, allowing four hits, no earned runs and struck out six batters and threw 56 strikes. Minge came in for the relief and pitched one inning and allowed one hit, no runs and struck out two batters and threw 11 strikes while facing four batters.
Overall, the Lady Leopards’ team execution secured their thrilling victory and qualified for the state tournament a consecutive season.
The game was scoreless through the third inning, but the Lady Leopards began their surge in the top of the fourth to route two runs around the bases to home and led Camden-fairview 2-0. In the fifth, Malvern added five runs to extend their lead to a 5-0 advantage. But the big inning was in the top of the sixth where the Lady Leopards exploded in their offensive execution and sparked a nine-run inning that secured their double-digit victory.
Malvern sparked for 14 runs on 10 hits while defensively holding the Lady Cardinals scoreless on five hits.
Offensively, Katelyn Minge displayed the highlight hit of the outing and hammered a home run for the hometown fans. Katelyn Minge drove in four runs for four RBIS. Emily Minge (two doubles) led the offensive attack in the frame and collected three hits and drove in two runs for two RBIS. Lauren “LG” Golden (double) powered two hits in the frame, Carr, Josie Nix, Isabella Roseberry and Aelia Saling each tallied a hit apiece. Golden, Carr, Nix, Roseberry, and Saling all drove in a run for an RBI. Leading the scoring attack was Ashlyn “AJ” Fike scoring three runs, Saling and Cooper each scored two runs apiece, Emily Minge, Katelyn Minge, Golden, Lainee Burnett, Nix, Elizabeth Briner and Reese Dedman all soared around the bases to score a run. Emily Minge, Fike, and Saling all led the base running with a stolen base apiece.