PENDLETON — After the difficult loss to Shelbyville just one day before jumping into the Madison County Tournament, coach Rob Davis said he hoped his girls got off the team bus with an attitude.
When the Arabian softballers did set foot on the field at Madison-Grant, they began a spree of mowing down county opponents that culminated in their fourth Madison County championship in as many years. In the title game on Saturday at home on Legends Field, the Arabians knocked off Frankton 10-2.
“They definitely came off with an attitude to play hard,” Davis said.
Pendleton Heights handed the Eagles their first loss of the season in a win for pitcher Ryann Norris, who fanned eight Frankton players for the game. Norris also pitched a shutout in the 11-0 win versus Alexandria-Monroe on Thursday, April 15. Brinkley Epperson got the 9-4 win against Madison-Grant Tuesday, April 13.
In Saturday’s title game, the Arabians were the visiting team and opened play with Kylie Davis scoring after her double, a sacrifice by Brynn Libler and a single by Grace Scott.
Eagle pitcher Adyson Coppess hit a home run to tie the score.
In the second inning, singles by Kenzie Green and Davis, and a walk by Libler loaded the bases. Catcher Kieli Ryan was hit by a pitch and went to first which scored Davis, giving the Arabians a 2-1 lead.
Coppess, in her second trip to the plate, hit another home run, tying the game again.
“Early in the game, they were battling and Frankton was battling. Frankton tied it, and the pressure started mounting,” Davis said.
After a scoreless third inning, when the team came to the plate in the fourth, he said he told them to compete. The Arabians responded.
In the fourth inning, the Arabians opened up the lead with four runs scored by singles from Green and Caroline DeRolf, double by Davis and sliding triple by Scott.
Libler increased the Arabian lead to 9-2 in the fifth inning with her three-run blast over the fence. Later in the inning, freshman Kaitlynn Goodwin, making her varsity at bat debut, knocked a pitch over the fence to bring the score to 10-2.
During the tournament, the Arabians tallied six home runs, bringing their total for the season to 28. With four starters out of the lineup, Pendleton Heights had to rely on the “next-person-up” strategy.
“This one is for them,” Davis said. “For all the girls who couldn’t be here. These girls stepped up and came in and played. For the way they played the entire tournament, they stepped their game up.”
Davis acknowledged the depth of the Arabian line up was an important part of the victory.
“We didn’t know what to expect, but these girls contributed a lot. It’s good to be this deep,” he said.
On Monday, the Arabians brought their season record to 8-3 with an 18-3 win against the visiting Anderson Indians. Epperson got the win, while Eliza Findley came in as relief. DeRolf and Kieli Ryan both had home runs in the game.
With their 11th county title in 14 years and Monday’s win, the Arabians will be tested this week with a home game against Carmel April 21 and then at the Carmel Invite April 23-24.