ZEIGLER — The Zeigler-Royalton-Christopher (ZRC) Lady Tornadoes had a tough day at the office on Thursday as they were clobbered 13-2 by the Trico Lady Pioneers. This loss pushes the young ZRC squad back to a respectable 5-5 (0-2 BDC West) on the season. This loss came hot on the heels of another drubbing from Trico in an away game from Tuesday.
Trico's bats and cleats were off and running early in the game as Sydney Levan nailed a leadoff single, and then stole second to get into scoring position in the first inning. Levan then traded places with Jade Kranawetter, who doubled and later stole third. Trico's number three hitter Juhle Prange then reached on a walk, and joined the stolen base club at second soon thereafter. Still with all this offense, ZRC was able to escape the first with minimal damage, only allowing one run to come around and score.
After this the Pioneers were near unstoppable as they scored four runs in the second, three in the third, and two in the fourth, and four more in the fifth to make it 13-0. ZRC entered the bottom of the fifth needing to score at least four runs to keep the game from ending via the 10-run rule. Down by a bunch, the Lady Tornadoes bravely battled on.
Haley Hammonds reached first on a one-out walk, and was soon followed by Madi Severs who cracked a single to try and spark a late rally for her team. Victoria Towers stepped up to the plate and drew a two-out walk, which brought up Nikki Ridgeway. Ridgeway had the biggest at bat of the afternoon for ZRC as she found a gap for a two-out, two-RBI single to keep the Lady Pioneers from a shutout.
Megan Wilson and Savannah Sherman each took turns on the mound for ZRC, as Trico ran roughshod over the Tornadoes' top two hurlers. Kranawetter was the winning pitcher for Trico, recording eight strikeouts.
For ZRC hitting, Ridgeway was 1-for-3 with two RBIs in the game. Severs and Wilson were both 1-for-2 in the game. Taylor Hawkins and Jayla Williams both entered the game as substitutes and each had stolen bases. All in all, the ZRC ladies only managed three hits in the game, while Trico clobbered in 14 hits, including two home runs, both by Prange. Trico was led in hitting by Prange who was 2-for-3 with the two long balls, and Kranawetter who went 4-for-4 including two triples, and two doubles.
ZRC coach Brooke Vercellino added that she was proud of her girls for not giving up against an overpowering Trico team. "Tuesday they beat us 13-0, and that's something we had talked about yesterday, as far as not getting down on yourselves, and trying to make that comeback. And they tried, so that's all that I can ask for," said Vercellino. Going forward, Vercelinno said she hopes to take her young team, which includes only two seniors, and press on to a top spot in the BDC West.
The ZRC Lady Tornadoes will get another chance to prove themselves, as they battle Waltonville at home on Monday.
