BUCKLEYS CREEK — Daisy Scott ripped a shot to right field for Pike Central.
She could’ve easily held up at second for a stand-up double, but she legged it out and stretched it to a triple to leadoff the bottom of the second inning.
Her hustle was contagious after that as Pike Central rolled to a 15-5 win over Betsy Layne in five innings of play Thursday evening.
Scott’s leadoff triple was Pike Central’s first hit of the game and that came in the bottom of the second when the Lady Hawks were trailing 3-0 to Betsy Layne.
After Scott’s triple, Emma Prater followed with a an RBI single to plate Scott. Brayln Maynard added an RBI single of her own to cut the Betsy Layne lead to 3-2. Belle Maynard followed with a single of her own. Kennedy Hamilton reached on a bunt. Briley Williamson followed with a fielder’s choice that allowed another run to score and tie things at 3-3.
Abby Hess stepped to the plate and hit a two RBI base clearing triple to give put Pike Central out in front 5-3. Jaycie Stanley added a sacrifice fly RBI to push the lead to 6-3.
Pike Central kept the pressure on in the bottom of the third. Scott hit a leadoff single to get things going once again. With one out, Braylyn Maynard singled. Belle Maynard reached on a fielder’s choice allowing another run to score to push the lead to 7-3. Hamilton reached on an error that allowed another run to score and push the lead to 8-3.
Pike Central kept the pressure on in the bottom of the fourth inning as Stormie Marcum hit a two RBI double to push the lead to 10-3. Prater followed with an RBI single as the Lady Hawks’ lead grew to 11-3 after four innings of play.
Betsy Layne got a pair of runs back in the top of the fifth inning. With two on and one out, Miley Burchett delivered with an RBI single to cut Pike Central’s lead to 11-4. With two outs, Hailey Carroll hit an RBI single to cut the Lady Hawks’ lead to 11-5.
Belle Maynard led the bottom of the fifth off with a double. Kennedy Hamilton followed with a bunt and both runners scored on errors to push the lead to 13-4.
Williamson followed with a walk, Hess reached on an error and Stanley walked.
With the bases loaded, Marcum walked to drive home another run and push the lead to 14-5.
Scott followed with a walk-off RBI single; it was fitting because she got everything started for Pike Central.
Betsy Layne jumped out to an early lead thanks to Kayley Lee. With two runners on in the top of the first, Lee crushed a three-run homer to give the Lady Bobcats a 3-0 lead.
Pike Central followed with a 17-2 win in four innings of play against 60th District rival Phelps Saturday afternoon.
Pike Central pitcher Ashlyn Stepp got the win in the circle. Stepp went all five innings and gave up five runs (three earned) on nine hits and one walk, while striking out two batters.
Hannah Jarrell suffered the loss for Betsy Layne. She went four innings and gave up 15 runs (13 earned) on 14 hits and two walks, while striking out two batters.
