MENTOR—Two big innings spelled doom for the Vipers 16U team in an 8-7 scrimmage loss to visiting Big Red 05 on Monday.
Big Red overcame an early 3-0 deficit by scoring three runs in the top of the second and four in the top of the third and then added a run a much-needed insurance run in the top of the sixth to spoil the Vipers’ debut.
The Vipers turned a double play in the top of the first to end a Big Red scoring threat and then took a 3-0 lead in the bottom half of the inning.
After a leadoff strikeout, Lily Jarc (Beaumont) walked the next two Big Red batters but right fielder Mak Kobetitsch (Mentor) corralled a line drive and threw to shortstop Lily Agostine (Perry) to complete the inning-ending double play.
Macey McGhee (Independence) reached on an error with one out in the bottom of the first and scored on Agostine’s two-out triple to record the first run in Vipers club history. Oliva Sacks (Mentor) then drew a walk and stole second. Elana Scott (North Olmsted) hit into a fielder’s choice with Big Red gunning down Agostine at the plate for the second out.
Lizzy Gardner (North) drew a walk to load the bases and Clarissa Morrison (Mentor) reached on an error that scored two runs.
Big Red scored three runs on two walks and two hits in the top of the second and then scored four more runs on three hits and an error in the third to take a 7-3 lead.
The Vipers responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third.
McGhee and Saxten Ley (Mayfield) drew back-to-back walks to lead off the inning and Agostine followed with an RBI double. Gardner was hit by a pitch with two outs and Morrison singled home another run to cut Big Red’s lead to 7-6.
The score remained that way until the sixth when Big Red’s Alexa Bailey (Harvey) reached on a fielder’s choice and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Lola Thomas (Harvey) then singled her home for an 8-6 advantage.
Morrison and Lily Prebul (Gilmour Academy) drew back-to-back one-out walks in the bottom half of the inning and then Kobetitsch drew a two-out walk to load the bases. Jarc knocked in a run the easy way when she drew a bases-loaded walk to cut the Big Red lead to 8-7 but a groundout ended the game in six due to darkness.
Agostine finished the game 2-for-3 with a double, a triple, and two RBI. Ley and Morrison also collected hits for the Vipers, who collected 10 walks in the setback.
Jarc pitched 2 1/3 innings for the Vipers in the loss. She allowed four earned runs on five hits and struck out three. Scott threw the final 3 2/3 innings. She gave up one earned run on four hits and struck out one.
Rachel Tallion (Lake Catholic) and Thomas both had two hits for Big Red. Addison Seidler (Mentor) picked up the win after allowing six runs—only three of them earned—on three hits with seven strikeouts in three innings of work. Bailey threw the final three innings. She allowed one earned run on one hit and struck out three.
