Lady Eagles Open Regional Final With 14-1 Win

The No. 2 ranked Como-Pickton Lady Eagles kicked off their best-of-three Regional Final series against No. 8 ranked Shelbyville Wednesday. Como-Pickton was the road team in Game One and wasted no time at all setting the tone. 

The Lady Eagles opened the top of the first with a pair of runs before they could record two outs. Later in the frame it was Judah Van Rijn who really broke things open, hitting a two-run shot to extend their lead to 6-0. 

Shelbyville answered back with a run of their own in the bottom of the frame, thought it was all the offense they would muster for the game. A two-out triple, followed by a single brought in the lone run of the game, as it was all Lady Eagles from that point forward. 

The second inning was quiet for both teams, but Sarah Corley and Paisley Watkins were able to bust up the silence by leading off the top of the third with a double and a single respectively. Later in the frame Corley came in to score on an error before Watkins could come across the plate on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch. 

Just one batter later ace Mattison Buster was able to help out her own cause, hitting a sacrifice fly to add another run, extending their lead to 9-1 in the top of the third. With a ton of momentum on her side, Buster struck out the side in the bottom of the third. 

Both teams were once again quiet in the fourth inning, before Como-Pickton was able to add a few more runs, putting the game away in the fifth inning. The Lady Eagles needed just two more runs to put themselves in a position to run-rule, but didn’t stop there, plating five runs in the frame and pushing their lead to 14-1. 

In the bottom of the frame, needing just three more outs, Buster opened the frame with a ground out. She was able to get her final two outs, both via the strikeout, putting the game away and securing the 14-1 Game One win. 

Offensively it was Watkins who shined the brightest, having the only three-hit performance of the night. Bella Romero and Corley were right behind her with two hits each, as Corley also had a game-high three RBI. 

Gracie Thompson and Buster joined Van Rijn with two RBI, with both of Van Rijn’s coming during her first inning home run. 

Buster was also electric in the circle, allowing just one run on four hits in five innings of action. She also struck out eight in the 13-run win. 

The Game One wins puts Como-Pickton just one win away from going to the State Tournament. They will look to pick up that final win in Game Two Thursday at 6 p.m. at Marshall High School. 

Game Three, if needed, will be 4 p.m. Saturday, once again at Marshall High School.