While Circleville put on quite a display with its bats on Wednesday, perhaps the two most important numbers had nothing to do with its offensive fireworks.
The Tigers played a mistake-free game in the field and allowed just one run in a 21-1 Mid-State League Buckeye Division rout of visiting Liberty Union in five innings.
“Those are two big keys to our success. Our girls played pretty well defensively, making the routine play that we talk about, and then Gabby McConnell did a nice job of throwing strikes and consistently getting ahead in the count,” Circleville coach Dave Truex said.
McConnell allowed five hits, an earned run, walked a batter and struck out seven.
The Tigers scored twice in the first to take a 2-0 lead.
Chandler Hayes singled to center, and Claire Davis and Cara Cooper both worked walks to load the sacks full of Tigers. Following a strikeout, McConnell helped her own cause with a two-run single to left.
Circleville put away its seventh win of the season with an 11-0 run second, highlighted by a two-run double from Hayes and a two-run single courtesy of Ella Michael.
Hayes led the Tigers going 5-for-5, including two doubles, and drove in two runs, Davis singled three times and drove in three runs, Cooper doubled twice, singled and had four RBI and Michael singled twice and drove in four runs.
“When we have a disciplined approach at the plate, like we did tonight, then we hit the softball pretty well and can have quite a bit of success,” Truex said. “The key is to be mentally prepared and looking for our pitch to hit and not the pitch the pitcher wants us to hit.”
Circleville (7-3, 2-1) continues league play on Friday at league-leading Teays Valley (12-2, 5-0).
