The sixth inning has proved to be fruitful for the Trigg County Lady Wildcats in the past week although coach Monty Todd would rather his team score a few more runs early in the game.
Trigg County scored twice in the sixth inning to claim a 2-0 victory over Calloway County in the quarterfinals of the Class 2A sectional on Thursday at the Complex.
In their last four games, Trigg has scored 15 of its 24 runs in the sixth inning. The Lady Wildcats are 2-2 in those games.
Trigg’s Tember Oliver and Calloway County’s Hailee Jones hooked up for a pitcher’s duel on a sunny day at Trigg’s home field.
The Lady Wildcats had their chances to break through against Jones early. Rylee Hendricks singled and stole two bases, but Jones settled down to strike out two to end the inning.
Back-to-back errors by the Lady Lakers in the third inning put a runner in scoring position with one out, but Jones again battled back to retire the final two batters and escape unscathed.
In the top of the sixth, Calloway was on the verge of denting the scoreboard first when Preslee Phillips led off with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Oliver got a strikeout and then battled with Jones in a nine-pitch at-bat that ended with a called third strike.
Freshman Emerson Herndon locked in with Oliver in another lengthy at bat but it was Oliver who got the eight-pitch strikeout.
Kady Fuller singled to lead off Trigg’s sixth inning. One out later, Kiley Slone laid down a sacrifice bunt. Brynlee Smock delivered a two-out single to left to break the scoreless deadlock. Livia Breckel followed with a single to score Smock.
It was the 7-8-9 hitters – Smock, Breckel, and MaKenna Hendricks – that delivered four of Trigg’s six hits and drove in both runs.
Oliver struck out 12 and walked just two in allowing three hits.
Jones got the tough luck loss in the circle, striking out 11 and walking two.
Trigg County (7-5) will play in the Class 2A sectional semifinal when they return from spring break. The Lady Wildcats will host defending region champion Henderson County on Friday in the second-ever meeting between the schools and the first in seven years.
Calloway County (3-5) will host Caldwell County on Friday.
