Monarch catcher Jaylynn Young (left) looks toward the umpire who makes the out call at the plate. The defensive play helped preserve Marysville’s 2-0 verdict over Hilliard Bradley in the Division I district semifinal game. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
Some pitchers might be a bit nervous down the stretch of an important game after not having received a bunch of offensive support.
Marysville High school sophomore Abby Christian isn’t one of them.
Christian held a 2-0 lead over 29th-seeded Hilliard Bradley late in the Division I district semifinal game on the Lady Monarch diamond on Monday.
Marysville, the No. 4 seed, hadn’t given Christian much in the way of offensive backing with only a trio of hits to go along with the two runs.
The right-handed hurler wasn’t fazed.
“I wasn’t too worried,” Christian said. “I had confidence in our defense.
“They took care of me.”
The Lady Monarchs played a clean defensive game in winning the post-season battle.
They cut down a potential run at the plate in the fourth inning to help preserve the shutout.
Right fielder Hannah Pack made a couple of nice catches deep in the green.
Shortstop Lexi Williams went deep in the hole for an assist on a grounder and also caught a popup for a key out.
“Abby did a great job,” said MHS head coach Jennifer Segner-Maxwell. “She did a very good job of changing speeds.
“Our defense also played a great game.”
Christian said two pitches were especially good for her.
“My changeup and fastball were working the best,” said Christian. “I was able to change locations with my pitches.”
The Lady Monarchs (23-2) plated single runs in the home half of the first and fourth frames.
Abri Schmutz led off the first by drawing a free pass from Bradley pitcher Chloe Sayre.
With one down, Schmutz scored when Christian helped herself at the plate with a double.
Sayre issued walks to Jalynn Young and Tareyn Born to load the bases.
A strikeout and popup, however, allowed her to get out of trouble.
MHS left the sacks juiced and stranded six total runners for the game.
“Our offense really wasn’t working tonight,” said Segner-Maxwell. “We left too many runners on base.”
Christian stranded three Bradley runners over the second through fourth innings.
The fourth inning concluded with the Bradley out at the plate.
Makenzie Hilling drew a lead-off walk and Kenna McClellan was safe on a fielder’s choice.
A single by Andrea Day put runners on first and second.
Christian induced a popup for the second out.
Day then got caught in a rundown between first and second.
McClellan rounded third and raced toward the plate.
Haley Winans turned and fired the ball toward home.
Young made the tag for the inning-ending out.
Marysville (which will host No. 5 Lancaster in the district title game on Wednesday) added an insurance score in the home half of the fourth.
With one down, Ashley Dunn blasted a solo homer.
Winans followed with a single, but Sayre coaxed a pair of popups (one a foul ball out by the catcher) to end the inning.
Christian retired Hilliard Bradley in order during the fifth.
She allowed two-out singles by Hilling and McClellan in the top of the sixth.
Both were left on base.
Williams assisted on the first out in the top of the seventh.
She ranged deep to her right to snag a grounder.
Williams was right on the money with the long throw to first baseman Winans for the first out.
A strikeout left the Lady Monarchs an out away from the victory.
Christian, though, issued a walk.
MHS third baseman Abby Gindlesberger caught a popup, however, to end the game.
Bradley 000 000 0-0 4 0
MHS 100 100 x-2 3 0
WP-Christian
LP-Sayre