The Heritage Patriots faced their toughest test of the year Saturday when they traveled north to Butler to take on the defending 2A state champion Eastside Blazers and were defeated 10-0 over five innings.
The Pats’ attempt at knocking off the incredibly talented Blazer team was made more difficult with the absence of Danica Fuller, the team’s top pitcher and hitter.
Heritage managed just two hits against Eastside starter Natalie Lower with Libby Cain and Riley Davis managing just a single.
The Blazers pounded out ten singles and 12 hits in total to score their ten runs. One Heritage error was responsible for three unearned runs on the record of starting pitcher Lucy Buuck.
The Patriots will shake off the loss and focus on their new sectional field, where they begin their quest for their first sectional title since 2007 at Angola.
Heritage’s opening sectional game will be broadcast live on WZBD Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. The Patriots will play Angola, a team with a 15-9 record. The Hornets ended their regular season with losses to Homestead and to Jimtown last week.