Pitching gem: Lady Mikes can’t solve Palmer in loss at Frazier
Carmichaels third baseman Grace Brown applies the tag for the out on Frazier鈥檚 Maria Felsher in the bottom of the first inning in Friday鈥檚 Section 3-AA game in Perryopolis. (Photo by Jim Downey)
Carmichaels鈥� Allie Miller fires a pitch in the bottom of the third inning in Friday鈥檚 Section 3-AA game at Frazier. (Photo by Jim Downey)
Jim Downey | 缅北禁地
Jim Downey | 缅北禁地
Frazier鈥檚 Grace Vaughn slides across the plate for the Lady Commodores鈥� first run in the bottom of the fourth inning as Carmichaels catcher Macie Kraynak waits for the throw in Thursday鈥檚 Section 3-AA game in Perryopolis.
Jim Downey | 缅北禁地
Carmichaels shortstop Kaitlyn Waggett (23) helps a smiling Frazier coach Don Hartman to his feet after Hartman lost his balance avoiding a foul ball in the bottom of the second inning of a Section 3-AA game in Perryopolis on April 22.
PERRYOPOLIS 鈥� The Lady Commodores鈥� Nicole Palmer tossed another gem last Friday afternoon, allowing just one hit in Frazier鈥檚 3-0 victory against Carmichaels in a key Section 3-AA softball game.
Palmer struck out 15, including the side in the third and fifth innings. The right-hander retired the first 13 batters she faced before Karissa Rohrer slapped a clean single into right field.
Palmer was unfazed, retiring the final eight batters. She recorded six strikeouts in the last eight outs.
鈥淣icole can spot the ball. She was attacking holes. She can throw it where I see it,鈥� praised Frazier coach Don Hartman.
鈥淭hat was the story of the game. She did a nice job,鈥� said Carmichaels coach Dave Briggs. 鈥淲e鈥檝e been hitting the ball. We did not do a good job recognizing balls and strikes.鈥�
While Palmer was setting down the Lady Mikes in order, her teammates threatened in the first two innings before finally breaking through in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Frazier had two hits in the first inning, but had a runner thrown out at third and stranded the other. The Lady Commodores鈥� Emi Bednar and Gracen Hartman singled with one out in the bottom of the second inning, but Allie Miller slid out of trouble with two fly ball outs.
After going down in order in the bottom of the third inning, Frazier finally cracked the scoreboard with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Frazier pieced together three hits and two walks to score three runs. Gracen Hartman drove in one run on a fielders鈥� choice, Jensyn Hartman singled home a run, and Maria Felsher walked a run home.
鈥淚f you told me we鈥檇 give up three runs, I would鈥檝e taken that,鈥� said Briggs. 鈥淲e鈥檙e a young team. We鈥檙e still learning. We鈥檙e getting better.鈥�
Miller settled in over the final two innings, retiring six of the final seven batters she faced. She allowed seven hits, walked two and struck out one. The Lady Mikes recorded eight outs on fly balls.
鈥淪he did her job. She鈥檚 very good,鈥� Don Hartman said of Miller.
The Lady Commodores stranded seven runners, including the bases loaded in the fourth inning.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 where we didn鈥檛 capitalize with some singles and open it up,鈥� said Don Hartman.
Weather has played havoc with all teams, including Frazier and Carmichaels. The game was supposed to be played earlier in the season, but was repeatedly postponed because of foul weather.
The Lady Mikes go to 3-1 in the section and 5-2 overall. Frazier remains undefeated, improving to 5-0 in the section and 7-0 overall.