GREENVILLE – The DVII Ansonia Lady Tigers dropped a 13-2 non-conference varsity softball game Saturday to the undefeated DIII Hamilton Badin Lady Rams at Greenville’s Lady Wave Stadium, following an earlier game played by the host Lady Wave.
Badin, now 11-0, showed why it is considered one of the top teams in the state, using a powerful offensive attack that included four home runs and 12 total hits to secure the win.
“Two of the state’s best,” said Ansonia coach David Fisherback. “I looked on MaxPreps, and overall in the state of Ohio, they are both top 25 teams out of all state teams. We knew about Greenville, but I didn’t know too much about Badin. They hit the ball, four home runs against us. From our point of view, I have to give the girls credit. We had the tragic event yesterday, the girls had a lot of connections with that.”
Badin wasted no time taking control, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning with the help of a leadoff walk, a bunt single, a two-run double, and a sacrifice fly to take a 3-0 lead.
Ansonia answered in the top of the second. Kylie Caldwell reached after being hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a passed ball, and later scored on another passed ball to cut the deficit to 3-1.
The Lady Rams responded with a big bottom of the second, plating six runs on five hits to break the game open. Emily Albrinck started the inning with a solo home run to center field, Kendall Ponatosaki blasted a three-run homer to left, and Ella Kent added a two-run triple to push the Badin lead to 9-1.
“Badin came out and was hitting the ball,” Fisherback said. “Our pitching staff is still working; I think we are going to be there in the long run. Abby Klingshirn came in and did an outstanding job. Miley Walls is working through her struggles. I am really proud of all three of my pitchers: Bre Walker, Miley Walls, and Abby Klingshirn. They keep plugging away, and we will continue to plug away as a pitching staff.”
Ansonia got another run back in the top of the third when sophomore Shyann McKenna connected on a solo home run to center field.
Badin kept swinging in the bottom half of the inning. Mattie Canupp delivered a two-run homer on a line drive to center, extending the Lady Rams’ advantage to 11-2.
The Lady Rams added the final two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning on a home run to center by Emily O’Brien.
Miley Walls started in the circle for Ansonia, allowing seven runs on five hits over one and two-thirds innings while striking out one and walking one. Phebe Kiefer started for Badin and worked two innings, allowing one run, none earned, with two strikeouts and no walks.
McKenna finished 1-for-2 and led the Lady Tigers with one RBI. Caldwell, Abby Klingshirn and McKenna each recorded a hit for Ansonia.
Despite the loss, the Lady Tigers were solid defensively, finishing the game without an error.
“Defensively, we played pretty well, we were moving around,” Fisherback said. “We have a great infield. Offensively, we have to put the bat on the ball.”
Badin also played a clean game in the field and was led offensively by Ponatosaki, who drove in five runs while going 3-for-3. O’Brien added two hits in two at-bats.
Fisherback said he hopes Ansonia can use the difficult stretch of competition as a building block as the team moves deeper into the season.
“What a gauntlet we just came through in our schedule,” Fisherback said. “Hopefully, now things get a little easier, and we start building some momentum towards our tournament. We’ve played some tough close games we should have won. We’ll learn from that and continue to work and be ready to go. We have a good chance to get on a good winning streak, and we need that for our kids.”
BOX SCORE:
000 000 0 R H E
011 00X X 2 3 0 Ansonia
362 2XX X 13 12 0 Hamilton Badin
