Columbus North’s Kelsey Lovelace slides into home plate against Floyd Central at the Southside diamonds, Wednesday, April 26, 2023.
Paige Grider | For The Republic
Some teams might have a letdown following a huge, emotional victory the previous night, but that wasn’t the case for Class 4A No. 3 Columbus North when it took on 4A No. 13 Floyd Central Wednesday night.
The Bull Dogs strung many timely hits together to built the cushion needed to come away with a 7-2 softball victory.
“We’re beating some really great teams, and I think Floyd Central is much better than (No. 13), though. They’ve been beating everybody, too,” North coach Ron McDonald said.
The Bull Dogs (12-1-1) didn’t waste any time picking up where they left off in Tuesday’s win against 4A No. 4 Bedford North Lawrence on Wednesday when Kelsey Lovelace singled and then went to second on a sacrifice bunt from Josie Lemmons. Maddi Rutan hit an RBI-single to score Lovelace. Rutan later scored on a two-out RBI-single from Bailey King for a 2-0 lead after the first inning.
The scoring continued for the Bull Dogs in the bottom of the fourth when Kaylee Cowan singled, and a fielder’s choice put runners on first and second. Morgan Jarvis laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners. Lovelace then smacked an RBI-single, and Josie Lemmons executed another sacrifice bunt to score another run to lead 4-0. After Rutan walked, Kirsten Danford smacked a double to plate another two runs to make it 6-0 after four innings.
Cowan hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth for a 7-0 lead. The Highlanders scored their two runs in the top of the sixth.
Lovelace has gone 6 for 7 and has reached base in seven of the eight plate appearances in her second game since moving to the leadoff spot.
“Us coaches had gotten together and decided that we’d put Kelsey up there and lead her off because she’s been stroking really well,” McDonald said, “and that would help Josie more into better form so she can get down to bunt because once she gets it down, it’s hard to throw her out. It also puts her in a good place right there at 2 without much pressure on her.”
Rutan earned the win, surrendering two runs on nine hits and striking out nine.
“She had a hard time getting loose tonight. She was tightening up quite a bit and mustered through it,” McDonald said. “For two great opponents, she did what she needed to do. Tonight, it wasn’t so much throwing as it was pitching. She actually pitched really well tonight. She used every pitch and used it well.”
For North, Lovelace went 3 for 3 with an RBI. Cowan was 2 for 3 with a home run, Rutan was 2 for 3 with an RBI, King was 2 for 3 and Danford was 2 for 4 with a double and two RBIs.
“We’ve been working really well as a team and communicating well,” Danford said. “What really helps is talking to each other about what we see, what the pitching is, especially with the pitchers switching out so much tonight. It’s really a big help when we are all talking to each other before we go up to bat and telling each other what we see. That was a big part to us doing well.”
