LISBON – Montezuma softball Coach Jeremy Van Zee had a plan for how his 10-wins team could compete with 32-4, third-rated Lisbon in Wednesday night’s tournament game.
He said the Bravettes had to give themselves chances, then take advantage.
The Bravettes did give themselves chances, but couldn’t cash in against tough Lisbon pitcher Ryleigh Allgood. Lisbon beat the Bravettes 10-0 in six innings in a second round regional game.
Montezuma’s Kalynn Wanders led off the game with a single to right field. Madison Van Zee laid down a seeing eye bunt that found a seam in Lisbon’s defense and went for a second straight hit.
But Allgood squelched the threat by striking out Montezuma’s next three hitters.
Bravettes pitcher Kallie Robison often went games between allowing bases on balls. But, the first two Lisbon hitters drew walks, and wound up scoring behind a single and a sacrifice fly, giving the Lions a 2-0 lead.
Laila Kercheval singled to center to start the Bravettes’ second inning, but Allgood left her stranded.
Robison appeared to have calmed any possible jitters in the second, retiring Lisbon in order on two pop ups and a strikeout. She wound up with three walks and two strikeouts for the game.
Van Zee reached on an error, and Jadyn Sharer singled. But both were stranded as the Bravettess left five girls on base in the first three innings.
Lisbon then used a Montezuma error and four hits to plate four runs in the third, giving itself a 6-0 cushion.
Ellen Cook had a two-outs single in the fourth, but couldn’t advance.
Sharer got her second hit of the game in the sixth, but also was not able to advance.
Lisbon scored twice in the fourth and twice more in the sixth inning to end it.
Allgood struck out 12 Bravettes in moving her pitching record to 25-2. Her earned run average is right at the 0.50 level.
Shorstop Peyton Robison was 3×3 for the Lions and reached base four times.
Lisbon made just one error, but Montezuma’s defense was tough behind Robison. The Lions stranded five baserunners to Montezuma’s seven.
The Bravettes finished a 10-17 season that saw much improvement from start to finish.
Lisbon will play again Friday night, July 8, taking in a 33-4 record.