FAIRVIEW, Ala. – After starting their respective seasons out slow, Fairview and Hanceville have quickly turned things around, with the Lady Aggies winning their last six games, and the Lady Bulldogs taking six out of their last eight games. Both teams faced off against each other at Fairview on Friday night. The Lady Aggies jumped out to an early 4-1 lead and held off a late rally attempt by Hanceville late to win the game, 4-3, as their winning streak is now at seven straight games.
Hanceville got on the scoreboard first against Fairview starter Jocelyn Barnett. Makayla Butler led off the game with a double to center field, then she stole third on the first pitch. An error allowed Butler to score to give the Lady Bulldogs the early lead, but Fairview looked to respond in their half against Hanceville starter Kynzlee Farr. Kendall Guthery led off the Lady Aggie half of the first with a double, then a ground ball by Kila Gunter moved Guthery over to third. Chloe Newton drew a walk to put runners at the corners with one out. Newton stole second on the first pitch, then on the next pitch, Addison Phillips hit a two-run triple to right field to give Fairview a 2-1 lead. Two pitches later, Kayleigh Hill lined an RBI double to center field to make it 3-1. One out later, Barnett helped out her own cause by lining the first pitch she saw into left field for an RBI double to widen the Lady Aggie lead to 4-1.
Both starters kept the score the same the next two innings, but Hanceville cut into the deficit in the top of the fourth. Isabella Spinks hit a leadoff double, then a fly ball moved her up 90 feet to third base. She later scored to cut it to 4-2. Peyton Mariano drew a walk, then a stolen base by Mariano and a sacrifice bunt by Laila Lewis put runners at the corners with two out with a chance to cut into the deficit even more. Barnett, though, struck out Piper Butts to end the inning, and Butler struck out two in a scoreless bottom of the fourth.
Butler drew a one-out walk, then Bentley Childers reached on a bunt single, and Butler moved up to third on the play. Childers stole second, then on the next pitch, Farr’s sacrifice fly brought home Butler to trim it to one at 4-3. Karrigan Pipkin reached on an error to lead off the top of the sixth inning for the Lady Bulldogs. Pipkin stole second and later moved to third on a ground ball by Mariano. A suicide squeeze play by Lewis was thwarted by Barnett, who threw Pipkin out at the plate. Later in the inning, Lewis was at third base with two outs, but another strikeout by Barnett quickly ended the inning.
Butler continued her masterful pitching in the bottom of the sixth, as she retired Fairview in order on 11 pitches. The Lady Bulldogs looked to extend the game in the top of the seventh. Butler drew a one-out walk, then she stole second, and a wild pitch moved her over to third. Barnett got Childers to line out to third base, then she picked Butler off at third base to help seal the 4-3 win for the Lady Aggies.
Phillips (two RBIs), Hill (one RBI), and Barnett (one RBI) all finished with a hit in the game for Fairview (9-7). Barnett gave up just four hits and three runs (two earned), walked three, and struck out nine in her complete game effort. For Hanceville (8-11-1), Childers (one hit) and Farr each drove in a run for the Lady Bulldogs. In her five scoreless innings of work, Butler gave up just one hit, walked one, and struck out six.
Fairview will go to Cold Springs next Tuesday, while Hanceville will travel to take on Locust Fork next Monday.
