By Rick Teverbaugh
Fri, May 16 2008
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ANDERSON — The winning runs Tuesday might have been unearned, but they still counted and provided a win for the No. 1-ranked Pendleton Heights Arabians.
“We got a little lucky with that error,” Arabians coach Scott Hall said. “But we’ve had those go against us too.” Tuesday, it was enough for a 2-0 victory over Highland.
Neither team scored through four innings, though Highland had its chances. The Scots stranded five runners in scoring position during that stretch against PH starter Lainie Dishroon.
Finally in the fifth inning for the Arabians, limited to a pair of singles to that point by Highland starter Lauren Williamson, the shutout ended.
With one out, Ashley Warrum bunted down the first-base line. Williamson fielded it near the line, but chose not to throw and risk Warrum ending up at second or third. Casey Jamerson bunted Warrum to second for the second out.
Shonda Garringer walked for the second time in the game.
Erin Falkenberry hit a grounder that threatened to get into center field. Highland shortstop Stormy Holder had to leave her feet to knock it down. She scrambled to her knees and realized she still had a chance to get Garringer at second.
But Holder’s throw hit Highland second baseman Krosley Ogden’s glove and bounced toward the outfield. That allowed Warrum to score the game’s first run. Tiffany Held singled to make it 2-0 and close out the game’s scoring.
But it didn’t end the drama.
Highland put runners on first and second with one out in the fifth thanks to a single by Jarah Ice and a walk by Kayla Byrne. The Arabians called on pitcher Lindsey Beisser to protect the lead.
Beisser retired eight of the 10 hitters she faced the rest of the game, two by strikeouts.
“There’s a little bit more pressure coming in that way,” said Beisser of her relief appearance. “I don’t really like that because I would rather Lainie (Dishroon) been able to finish it.”
The Arabians collected just four hits off Williamson, two by Williamson.
“Give credit to Lauren,” Hall said. “We were chasing the riser. We need to be more selective at the plate.”
“We know if we were to play Pendleton Heights 10 times we might win three or four,” said Highland coach Doug Holder, whose team is now 4-3. “But they’re going to beat us more than we beat them. They have a weapon in every spot in the lineup.”
Byrne had a double and a single in three official trips to the plate for the Scots. Williamson had a pair of singles in two at-bats.
The Arabians weren’t overly excited about being ranked No. 1 this week for the first time since they moved up to Class 4A at the start of the season.
“It’s just a number,” said Beisser. “We’ve been there (ranked No. 1 in 3A) before and not done anything with it. We need to prove we’re No. 1 on the field.”
“We just know we have to improve,” Hall said. “Tonight’s game showed us areas we need to work on.”
PH visits Carmel today while Highland plays Saturday at Noblesville.
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