Lady Devils come out in full force

By MELINDA ROBINSON — The Independent

FLATWOODS May 14, 2008 12:23 am

— Sometimes all you have to do is show up to win a game.
Russell came out in full force on Senior Night and shut out visiting Ashland 5-0 on Tuesday.
“We were really ready for tonight,” Russell coach Ron Osborn said. “It’s always tough playing Ashland but it’s good competition.”
The Kittens, however, might have left part of their game back at home.
“This is the worst game we’ve played all year,” Ashland coach Dave Miller said. “I’m going to keep my fingers crossed that it was just a little hangover from last night, but you never know.”
Ashland came off a down-to-the-wire win at Boyd County late Monday night.
“We were out late and those types of games take a little out of you, but we just didn’t show up at all today,” Miller said.
Russell took advantage of a few Ashland mistakes and that was all it took. All five runs were unearned.
“They came out and did what it takes to win a ball game and I don’t think we responded at all to that,” Miller said.
In the bottom of the second, Russell’s cleanup hitter Samantha Sparks led off with a walk. A pair of ground-outs moved her around to third and she was in perfect position when Katrina Holmes stepped up to the plate. Holmes reached on a fielding error while Sparks came around to score. Britnee Iddings followed up with an RBI single, bringing in Jorden Gross, who was running for Holmes, and the Lady Devils led 2-0.
In the bottom of the fifth, Iddings led off and reached second on an error. With two outs and two runners on, Kelsey Simpson drove in Iddings with a left-field single. Molly Baldridge also got in on the act, driving in a pair of runs with an infield single. Russell batted through the order to post a 5-0 lead, but left the bases loaded to finish the inning.
Russell also posted a solid defensive performance, giving up just two hits to the Kittens.
Simpson went the distance from the circle, striking out 10 batters and walking four for the win. She was also 2-for-4 from the plate and drove in a run.
“She’s got the speed, the arm and she’s got a good eye at the plate,” Osborn said. “She’s just a balanced player. I just wish she hadn’t given us a layoff and come back and start pitching this late in her career.”
Katelyn Miller pitched a complete game for Ashland (20-8), giving up six hits without an earned run. She fanned four and walked four.

ASHLAND 000 000 0 — 0 2 2
RUSSELL 020 030 x — 5 6 0
Miller and Amburgey; Simpson and Ferry. W — Simpson, L — Miller.