ARCANUM – The Lady Trojans softball team defeated Ansonia 5-0 to improve to 4-1 in the WOAC and 11-5 overall.
Arcanum started the season 4-5 and are now winners of the last 7-of-8 games with the only blemish being a 5-4 loss to undefeated Tri-Village.
It was also a big game for Ansonia, coming in after falling to Tri-Village the night before, as both teams needed a win to stay in the hunt for a league title. The loss put Ansonia at 6-6 overall and 2-2 in the conference, now two games back in the WOAC league race.
The Tigers had an opportunity to score in the 1st inning with a runner on third base, but a great snag on a line drive by shortstop Jordyn Garbig ended the threat.
Jordyn then followed up on the offensive end with a double to start the bottom of the inning, she stole 3rd base, and then scored on a sacrifice fly from Grace Fry for a 1-0 lead.
Arcanum added another run in the bottom of the 2nd inning. With two outs E. Warren down a perfect bunt to get on base, she then stole 2nd and then 3rd base. Senior Marli Morris then hit a line drive to left center to score Warren, giving the Trojans a 2-0 lead.
Ansonia started the top half of the 3rd on a hit from Shyann McKenna. On what was a very windy but warm day, the Tigers tried small ball with Jayda Mangen laying down a bunt, and she would beat the throw on a bang-bang play.
McKenna tried to go from 1st to 3rd on the bunt … but a heads-up Kenzie Byrne threw a strike, left-fielder Emily Fox covering 3rd base due to the bunt tagging McKenna. Then Fox threw to 2nd base to try and get Mangen. Matty Noe was able to run down Mangen as she tried to retreat back to 1st base.
It was a defensive gem by Arcanum turning in the unusual double play and knocked the Tigers out of potential big inning with Ava Thatcher getting a base hit right after. She stole 2nd base, but Trojan pitcher Cam Garbig struck out Addison Geyer swinging, coming away unscathed.
Arcanum added to their lead in the bottom half of the 3rd inning with Jordyn Garbig leading off with a single. Grace Fry sacrificed a bunt to move Jordyn to second. Kenzie Byrne then drove a ball to center to get on base. Matty Noe then singled to right field and both Garbig and Byrne scored, giving Arcanum a 4-0 lead.
At the top of the 4th inning, the Tigers would have another scoring opportunity with Miley Walls drawing a walk and a single by Lilly Perry with runners on 1st and 2nd.
Garbig gets a strikeout on the next batter and coaxes a ground ball from Kylie Caldwell, advancing Walls to 3rd and Perry to 2nd. Arcanum then opted to intentionally walk Shyann McKenna to load the bases for a force out at every base.
Ansonia, needing a hit to get back in the game, got good contact from Jayda Mangen, but Jordyn Garbig snagged it from shortstop to end the inning, getting out of the jam.
Arcanum added a run at the bottom of the 4th inning on a sacrifice bunt by Marli Morris to complete the scoring in the game, 5-0.
Cab Garbig would take the win as the sophomore pitcher threw a six-inning shutout, giving up four hits with three strikeouts and five walks.
Ansonia Miley Walls took the loss. She threw five innings, gave up six hits, four runs, had two strikeouts, and just one walk. Bre’ana Walker threw an inning in relief and gave up two hits and one run.
Offensively, the Tigers had five hits: one each from Shyann McKenna, Jayda Mangen, Ava Thatcher, Lilly Perry, and Avalyn Locke.
Arcanum was led on offense by Jordyn Garbig (2-3, 2 hits, two runs), E. Warren (2-3, 2 hits, 2 runs), and a one-hit each for Kenzie Byrne, Matty Noe, Marli Morris, and Cam Garbig.
Arcanum will be back in action on Tuesday in a league game at National Trail. Ansonia will travel to take on a very strong Miami East team at Casstown on Wednesday.
