Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Lady Cards Throttle Gentry
DOTY HOMERS AS FARMINGTON DEFEATS LADY PIONEERS 11-0
FARMINGTON — Make no mistake Bethany Doty was happy rounding the bases, she just didn’t dote on them after smashing a grandslam home run in Farmington’s 11-0 win at Gentry.
The play on April 1 was huge sending Farmington ahead 4- 0 with nobody out and leading to a six-run inning as the Lady Cardinals seized control of what had been a scoreless game.
“I think my mentality when I went up there was very strong and I’m confident in myself,” Doty said. “Without the encouragement of my team I don’t think I would have been able to do it. It was very exciting, I was definitely excited and was very pumped up after that. I think I got the team going.”
“That broke it wide open,” said Farmington assistant coach Steve Morgan. “The girls in front of her did a good job of getting on base.”
The Lady Cardinals managed only one base hit in the first on Brooke Larkin’s single into centerfield. Gentry starter Jordan Olds then struck out Paige Purifoy to leave Larkin stranded. The Lady Cardinals went down in order in the second with Doty out at first after a dropped third strike.
Gentry threatened in the bottom of the second when Rebecca Evans hit a line- drive single into centerfield. The threat was short lived, however, when the next batter up, Christina Campbell, hit into a double play on a pop- up to shortstop with Doty combining with first baseman, Lindsey Blackburn.
Farmington starter Jordin Smith then issued a walk before inducing Baeley Metz to ground out to shortstop with Doty and Lindsey Blackburn repeating a scoop and throw to first for an out.
Gentry had another opportunity in the third inning with a leadoff single. Smith then struck out Courtney Brown and got her glove around a line-drive by Jaime Pierce on a 2-2 pitch as the Lady Cardinal defense tightened up to get out of the inning.
With the game deadlocked in a 0-0 tie, Farmington set out to manufacture some runs and Doty delivered. Brooke Larkin took a called strike then singled to left field to get the leadoff runner aboard. Purifoy followed with a single into right field sending Larkin to third. Purifoy stole second with Lindsey Blackburn taking ball one. Lindsey Blackburn then reached on a fielder’s choice and Doty smacked her grand-slam over the left field wall.
“One time through the lineup everybody got the opportunity to see the pitcher. Jordan Olds is a good pitcher and throws a little curveball,” said Farmington coach Randy Osnes. “We made some adjustments and everybody hit the ball up and down the lineup from that point forward.”
“I couldn’t have done it without my teammates, obviously,” Doty said. “Brooke getting us going, getting a line drive to get on base to start us off. We just went crazy after that.”
“I’m a big fan of the home run,” Osnes said. “I was very proud of the three kids in front of her that got on base and she did her job. She hit the ball hard and stayed through the pitch and of course at Gentry it’s kind of a short porch but Bethany Doty leads us in home runs right now anyway.”
With momentum on their side, Farmington upped the lead. Maria McPherson hit a single and Smith, helped her cause, by singling past shortstop on a hard ground ball pushing McPherson to second.
Lauren Blackburn bunted and raced to first with McPherson scoring and Smith going to third. Oakley Sisemore brought in Smith for a 6- 0 lead with a ground out but Gentry avoided any further damage and got out of the inning.
In the top of the sixth inning, McPherson started 0- 2, then battled back to reach a full-count and singled starting another Lady Cardinal scoring spree. With Smith up, McPherson stole second and reached third on Smith’s single. Lauren Blackburn’s groundout to third accomplished the task of bringing in McPherson and advancing Smith to third, who scored on Sisemore’s single running the Farmington lead to 8-0.
Sisemore dashed to second on a steal and Sarah Beth Jones arrived safely at first with an error charged to Olds on the mound setting the stage for Larkin, who knocked her fourth single of the day into centerfield sending Sisemore across the plate.
With Purifoy batting, Jones and Larkin advanced into scoring position and Purifoy rewarded their efforts with a double stretching Farmington’s dominance on the scoreboard to 11-0.