DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
Mackenzie Arroyo struck out 15 batters and the Leo Lions eliminated the Heritage Patriots from the postseason in an 8-2 ball game Wednesday night.
The story of the game, however, was not the pitching exploits of Arroyo, but rather the bats of the Lions, who pounded out ten hits and eight runs.
The Patriots were behind the eight ball from the very beginning, with Leo taking advantage of some defensive miscues in the top of the first inning to post two runs before Heritage ever came to bat.
Two more runs produced by the bottom of the Leo lineup in the top of the second left Heritage with a 4-0 hole.
Abriyah James tripled with a slicing ball past the left fielder in the third inning and scored to get the Pats on the board and she did the same in the seventh, knocking in Danica Fuller, but not before Leo put four more runs on Heritage in the sixth and seventh innings. James also had a double in her first at-bat.
Leo put the bat on the ball and put the ball in play, striking out just twice against Danica Fuller.
The loss set the Patriots’ final record at 10-10 in 2024.
Leo will play Woodlan in Thursday night’s championship game.
