Scots win while one has heavy heart

By Mike Beas

Fri, May 16 2008

— FRANKTON — If ever Lauren Williamson needed to incorporate softball as a diversionary mechanism, Thursday was it.
Highland’s ace pitcher, home again after spending the early part of the week in North Carolina following the passing of her paternal grandfather, took some rust with her to the mound against Class 2A No. 10 Frankton.
Rarely, if ever, did it show.
The right-hander went the distance for the Scots in their 4-1 victory, allowing three hits and striking out seven Frankton batters as Highland bumped its season record to 9-3.
Best of all, for 90 minutes Williamson allowed herself to focus on something different than the man she shared a birthday (Aug. 31) and so much more with.
“It was good to be back, definitely. This was my escape,” said the junior following the game. “This is the first time I’ve been happy in about a week.”
Being backed up by a leak-proof defense never hurts, either. The Scots played a strong defensive game to help Williamson, who only made one mistake, a second-inning solo home run off the bat of Frankton sophomore third baseball Mollie Hamilton.
The shot clearing the left-field fence was the first round-tripper of Hamilton’s varsity career. Williamson would also permit singles by Eagles’ leadoff hitter Allison Parr and center fielder Heather Grinstead.
All three of Frankton’s hits came in the first 11 at-bats. After that, Williamson settled in and became noticeably stingy, retiring 15 of the final 16 batters she faced.
“That’s Lauren’s style. She normally gets stronger as the game goes on,” Highland coach Doug Holder said. “That’s been her key now as our No. 1 pitcher for three years now.”
All the offensive support Williamson would need came in the top of the third inning, a four-run frame highlighted by deep drives to the outfield courtesy of third baseman Kayla Byrne and outfielder Jessica Jones.
Catcher Jarah Ice got things started off Frankton junior pitcher Sam Green with a one-out walk. Ice came all the way home on Byrne’s triple, a blast to center that barely cleared the glove of the Eagles’ Grinstead.
Scots shortstop Stormy Holder then walked to place runners on the corners. Byrne came home on a double steal that put Holder at second base and provided the visitors a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Highland’s other two runs in the inning came when Jones drilled a shot to deep left.
For Frankton (8-4), Green pitched three innings before being relieved by Bre Shively, who put together a solid four innings of work. All together the Scots managed six hits, two from Byrne and one apiece from leadoff hitter Katie Lee, Ice, Jones and Kaleigh Jarrett.
Afterward, Frankton coach Jeremy Parker expressed disappointment in his team’s inability to respond to the Scots’ big third inning.
“I’m kind of disappointed (Williamson) got 15 of the last 16 outs,” Parker said. “It seemed like after we got down 4-1 we quit. We usually respond.”
The Eagles are off until Monday when they play at Alexandria in a crucial Central Indiana Conference matchup. Highland takes the field again Saturday when it travels to Alexandria.