Payton Morris
With Columbus North and Shelbyville facing off against each other in the opening round of the softball sectional on May 20, neither team showed their hand, pitching-wise Friday night.
The Golden Bears’ top pitcher and University of Indianapolis recruit Cheyenne Eads and Bull Dogs’ top pitcher Bailee Scruggs didn’t throw Friday and will be the probable pitching matchup heading into the sectional showdown in less than 10 days. North pounded out 20 hits to win 15-7.
Fans from both teams got to see a lot of hitting, with the teams combining for 30 hits.
It got started in the top of the first when Eads doubled, and then Addison Stieneker homered on the next at bat to put Shelbyville ahead 2-0. North (10-9) got it back in the bottom of the first when Morgan Jarvis walked, and two batters later, Payton Morris hit a line drive ball over the fence for a two-run homer to tie it at 2-2.
The Golden Bears recaptured the lead in the second when Eads smacked a two-out solo homer run to make it 3-2. The Bull Dogs took the lead for good in the bottom of the second when they scored seven runs on seven hits, highlighted by a grand slam home run from Morris to lead 9-3.
Morris, who was North’s top pitcher at the beginning of the season before missing time due to a sprained MCL, recently returned to the lineup.
“When I came back, it was kind of hard to get back into it,” Morris said. “I feel like with this team my big role is hitting, and I’m glad I can get back and do my role for the team.”
Miley McClellan
Morris finished 3 for 5 from plate with two homers and eight RBIs, and Miley McClellan went 5 for 5 with two doubles and two RBIs. Kelsey Lovelace was 3 for 5 with an RBI, Jarvis and Avery Shehan each finished 2 for 4 with a double. Ali Wooten was 1 for 2.
Morris started the game in the circle and went 4 and 2/3 innings, with Lovelace coming on in relief to close out the game.
“We had 20 hits and 15 runs tonight. I’m happy about that,” North coach TJ Jarvis said. “(Morris) hadn’t pitched in 2 1/2 weeks (prior to this week), so we’re trying to get her as much work as we can going into sectional. She’ll be OK.”
