Coming up aces

York leads Greenwood past top-ranked O-Cath

Wednesday, May 18, 2005

The Greenwood softball team faced a stern test with a visit from No. 1 Owensboro Catholic on Tuesday, but they not only passed the test they aced it.

The Lady Gators (21-6) got a masterful pitching performance from Brittany York and took advantage of a shaky Owensboro Catholic defense to claim a 2-0 victory. The win was Greenwoods second in three tries this season against the Lady Aces (20-9).

We put together a complete ballgame at the plate, on the mound and defensively, GHS coach Penny Reece said. That was the difference tonight.

Greenwood got all the runs it would need in the third inning, with a little help from the Owensboro Catholic defense.

Third baseman Elizabeth Ferrell reached with one out after a throwing error by Lady Aces pitcher Haleigh Ashworth one of four errors by Owensboro Catholic in the game. Second baseman Rachel Riley was next and smacked an infield hit up the middle that scored Ferrell and gave Greenwood a 1-0 lead.

Two batters later Riley scored on an RBI single by shortstop Amanda Walden.

Reece said the rally was huge for the momentum.

You put pressure on them, she said. Yeah, they are the No. 1 team in the state, but they still have to make the plays. They are still a high school ball team, just like we are. We put the pressure on them and everything kind of went our way tonight.

Two runs were all the Lady Gators would need. York stifled the Lady Aces, allowing one hit a bloop single by Amy McManaway in the third inning and striking out six hitters.

McManaway was the only base runner of the night against York, who threw 64 pitches 55 for strikes. The right-hander only went to a three-ball count once in the game and got behind in the count only three times all night.

She was putting it where the umpire needed it, Reece said. He was calling it consistently low for both teams and we knew that. She kept the ball down there and gave him what he wanted. (Owensboro Catholic) really didnt respond to that.

York said she was determined to give her team a chance to win.

I knew it was a big game, she said. I knew if I came out and put on a show tonight, then wed do pretty good. I was focused and I knew what I wanted to do tonight. I came out here and did it and my defense was behind me. We gave it all we got and got a good victory out of it.

Greenwood returns to action Thursday at 5 p.m., when it faces North Hardin in the Lady Gators home finale.

Owensboro Catholic 000 000 0 0 1 4

Greenwood 002 000 x 2 4 0

WP: York LP: Ashworth

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