North Union’s Kale Keigley puts down a bunt against River Valley. The Lady Cats dropped a 3-1 decision to the Vikings.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Bob Putman)
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There were a lot of good things that happened during North Union’s softball season opener on Monday at River Valley.
They got good pitching from Reese DeCamp, were able to get on base with hits and played flawless defense.
Unfortunately, the one number that mattered was on the River Valley side of the ledger as the Lady Cats lost 3-1.
The Lady Vikings, who also were playing their first game of the season, scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to earn the victory.
“River Valley was able to get some timely hits and we did not,” NU head coach Pat Grove said. “We knew it was going to be the type of game that it was.”
DeCamp and RV pitcher Lanie Wooten battled evenly through the first three innings as neither team was able to get a run across the plate.
River Valley scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth on a run-scoring single by Wooten.
North Union tied the score in the top of the sixth.
Kale Keigley opened the inning with a bunt single. She stole second and advanced to third on a single by DeCamp.
DeCamp then went to second on a stolen base.
Zoe Wedding cracked a fly ball to center that was misplayed for an error as Keigley was able to score.
DeCamp also tried to score, but was cut down at the plate.
River Valley struck quickly in the bottom of the sixth as it opened the inning with three straight hits.
Sidney Street and Wooten each singled and both scored on a double by Samantha Woods.
North Union was able to maintain the two-run deficit as rightfielder Emma McElroy made a nice catch of a hard-hit ball. The action turned into a double play as Woods could not get back to second base.
The Lady Vikings did get one more hit, but DeCamp was able to keep them from adding to their total.
The Lady Cats started the seventh inning positively as Kennedy Harrah singled to right. She advanced to second with a stolen base.
Wooten, however, was able to retire the next three batters with two ground outs and a strikeout.
Grove felt the youthful inexperience may have limited the Lady Cats at the beginning. However, as the game progressed he saw some positive things.
“It took a couple of innings for us to loosen up,” Grove said. “Our youth and inexperience may have showed with our early hitting.”
DeCamp surrendered six hits, struck out four and walked one.
“I felt I pitched pretty good, but there are things I need to clean up,” DeCamp said. “I will need to be better with pitch location.”
Harrah finished with a pair of singles, while Keigley. DeCamp, Wedding and Kailin McElroy each singled.
“I can’t find much that went wrong except for the timely hitting,” Grove said.
North Union is scheduled to return to action on Thursday for its Central Buckeye Conference opener at London.
NU 000 001 1—1-6-0
RV 000 102 x—3-6-1
WP—Wooten; LP—DeCamp.