There were no late-inning heroics in Monday’s contest between rivals South Adams and Adams Central, but that didn’t mean the game was any less competitive. The two teams combined for five runs in the first two innings and then South Adams’ Addie Baker and AC’s Lilli Jackson went to work, throwing five shutout innings each to end the game as a 3-2 Starfire victory.
The two aces allowed just 11 hits in their combined 13 innings of work, avoiding any home run heroics from the opponent.
Sofia Schwartz had the first big play of the game (and, in retrospect, perhaps the most important play) when she gunned down Jozie Zimmerman trying to steal to get the third out in the top of the first. That left RBI-machine Melina Peralez standing at the plate and forced to lead off the next inning.
In the bottom of the first, Jackson looked like she was out of trouble, accomplishing the tough task of getting both Macy Pries and Shea Alberson out to start the inning, but a bunt single by Bekah Patterson and a walk to Schwartz gave Addie Baker an RBI opportunity and she knocked one into left field to make the score 1-0.
Peralez kick started the second for the Jets with her tenth double of the season and Adams Central followed up with two more doubles from Brooke Thomas and Izzy Isch, swinging early in the count against Baker.
Those extra-base hits put Adams Central up 2-1 and a walk to Audrey Eisberg put two runners on with none out. Baker reached back and threw some of her best pitches of the night, striking out the next two batters and getting the final out via pop up.
From that point on, Baker dominated the Jets, allowing just two hits and no runs. She did run into trouble in the fourth with three straight one-out walks, but Reagan Beitler came up with a big play to end the inning with a force out to home for the final out of the inning.
The Starfires answered those two runs in the top of the second with two of their own, starting the rally with two outs and taking advantage of a pair of errors by the Jets defense. Avery Brown and Macy Pries were in scoring position for Shea Alberson and Brown beat the throw home (see two photos below) to tie the game at two runs apiece.
Coach Jessie O’Dell went with what works and called for another bunt with the speedy Pries on third and his team showed why they are 17-3, executing the play and taking the lead that ultimately held up the rest of the way.
Baker recorded the final out of the game with a fly ball off the bat of Peralez.
The two teams are set to play on the exact same ball diamond in eight days in the IHSAA Sectional.
Patterson and Beitler each had two hits for the home team.
Baker struck out five and successfully worked around six walks thanks to solid play in the infield and behind the plate with Sofia Schwartz.
Lilli Jackson got equally good play from her catcher, Athena Schwartz, and was charged with just one earned run while striking out two.
The Starfires head to Woodlan Tuesday night and host Wapahani on Wednesday. They will wrap up their ACAC schedule against Heritage Thursday on a game set to be broadcast on WZBD, with additional games scheduled Friday and Saturday.
Adams Central will finish their regular season with five non-conference games in the next five days.
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