Jonathan Alder shortstop Emily Walker (left) catches a popup while third baseman Jillian Jaske (33) watches. The Lady Pioneers pounded London in a Division II tournament game.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
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Athletic teams from Jonathan Alder and London have been known to hook up in some pretty spirited Madison County battles, regardless of the sport, over the years.
The Division II tournament softball game between the Pioneers and Red Raiders really didn’t live up to that hype.
The game was started on Thursday, but was suspended in the top of the second until Friday due to inclement weather.
Alder plated 10 runs in the bottom of the first and controlled the contest that was completed 24 hours later.
The Lady Pioneers ran their record to 22-1 with a 16-0 victory.
Marlee Jacobs started in the pitching circle on Thursday for JA and yielded one hit to London.
She was staked to a double-digit lead in the home half of the initial inning when JA battered Red Raider pitcher Ashley Riedel for 12 hits in 14 trips to the plate.
Jacobs, Emily Walker and Jillian Jaske each had two hits during the first frame.
Freshman Jaden Phelps took over the pitching duties when the game resumed in the top of the second on Friday.
She had very little trouble with the Red Raiders, striking out three and yielding a harmless single in the fourth to Abby Weiner.
The Lady Pioneers (who are scheduled to play at Cardington today) added four runs to their ledger in the second against hurler Cadence Doughman.
Cierra Clark led off with a single and raced all the way home on Phelps’ base hit.
Phelps advanced to second on a wild pitch, moved to third on Danielle Robbins’ sacrifice bunt and scored when the Red Raiders played the bunt into a throwing error.
A base hit and stolen base by Lindsay Potter put a pair of Alder runners in scoring position.
Consecutive sacrifice flies from Walker and Jaske drove in runs that gave the Lady Pioneers a 14-0 advantage.
JA plated two additional runs in the fourth.
Kelsey McDonald singled and later advanced two bases on wild pitches.
April Wagner was given a free pass.
She and McDonald both scored on Jaske’s double.
Allison Caldwell finished in the circle in the top of the fifth for Alder.
She gave up a lead-off single, but notched a pair of strikeouts to help end the game.
“We hit the ball well and I was pleased with our pitching over the last two days,” said Pioneer head coach Dave McGrew.
“This team has a lot of experience and is focused on a tournament run.”
After playing at Cardington today, the Lady Pioneers will return to post-season action on Tuesday.
They will play River Valley at 5 p.m. in the D-II district semifinals.
The official location of the contest had not been announced at presstime.
London 000 00-0 3 1
JA (10)40 2 x-16 18 0
WP: Jacobs
LP: Riedel