ARCANUM – The Arcanum Lady Trojans opened OHSAA Division VI tournament play in impressive fashion Thursday night, defeating the Dixie Greyhounds 10-0 in five innings on the Lady Trojans’ home diamond.
Veteran Arcanum coach Mike Morris praised his team’s all-around effort after the convincing tournament win.
“We did about everything right tonight,” said Morris. “We got our bunts down, ran the bases well – that’s what you have to do, you have to play almost perfect to keep going in the tournament.”
Arcanum wasted little time taking control of the game.
After the first two batters were retired in the bottom of the first inning, Jordan Garbig singled to center to ignite the offense. Grace Fry followed with an RBI double to center, scoring the game’s first run, before Cam Garbig blasted a two-run home run to center field, giving the Lady Trojans an early 3-0 lead.
“Cam has been struggling hitting the last few weeks and we worked on it last night,” said Morris.
The Lady Trojans added another run in the second inning after Emily Fox was hit by a pitch to start the frame. Matty Noe singled, and Claire Hein followed with an RBI single to left, stretching the Arcanum advantage to 4-0.
Arcanum continued to apply pressure in the third inning. Cam Garbig doubled off the left field fence, narrowly missing her second home run of the night. Pinch runner Brynn Byers later scored on a Meredith Laux groundout to second base, making it 5-0.
“I told Cam don’t listen to your dad anymore, just do what I tell you and shorten up and she did that,” Coach Morris said with a chuckle. “She almost had two home runs.”
The Lady Trojans broke the game open in the fourth inning. Ella Flatter singled to lead off the inning before Jordan Garbig crushed a three-run homer to left field, pushing the Arcanum lead to 8-0 heading into the fifth.
Arcanum sealed the run-rule victory in the bottom of the fifth. Meredith Laux doubled to center, Emily Fox singled to left, and Noe drove in a run with a groundout to second. Hein then delivered the game-ending blow with a walk-off RBI double to center field for the 10-0 final.
Cam Garbig went the distance in the circle to earn the shutout victory, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out seven Dixie batters.
“Cam pitched a great game tonight,” said Morris.
Arcanum pounded out 14 hits in the win led by Jordan Garbig, who drove in three runs while going 2-for-3 at the plate. Cam Garbig collected three hits to lead the Lady Trojans offensively. Hein and Fry each added two hits, while Hein also stole two bases as part of Arcanum’s five stolen bases on the night.
The Lady Trojans also played flawless defense behind their pitcher, committing no errors in the field.
“We have been playing really well, peaking at the right time,” said Morris. “Hopefully we can get another one Monday.”
With the win, No. 3 seed Arcanum Lady Trojans advances to face the No. 6 seed Anna Lady Rockets, who defeated Springfield Northwestern 12-4. The second-round tournament game is scheduled for Monday, May 18 at Arcanum High School with a 5 p.m. first pitch.
BOX SCORE:
123 456 7 R H E
000 000 0 0 3 1 Dixie
311 12X X 10 14 0 Arcanum
