Central suffers first loss to Tigers

BY PCC STAFF

DONNELLSON - The Lady Hawks gave up five runs in the third inning to give New London it's 11th win in the last 12 games, 6-1 Thursday night in Donnellson.

Central Lee has just one win against the Tigers dating back to 2013, but sophomore Sophie Turner and some snappy defense had things in hand until the fourth.

The Tigers' Sofie Reighard and Elly Manning led off the game with a couple singles, but Laney Lloyd grounded an 0-1 pitch hard to third where Daly Brisby touched and fired to Macy Watkins at second for the double play. Ashlyn McSorley would ground to short to end the threat leaving one on.

Central went in order in the bottom half and New London would manage just a one-out single in the top of the second before a pop out to the catcher, and a strike out ended the inning.

Meghan Hopp would get a two-out single and Turner would reach on an error to get things working for the Lady Hawks in the bottom of the second. But Andrea Benner would ground out to the pitcher stranding two.

Central would run into a buzzsaw in the third with Claire Jones and Reighard both getting on with a bunt and infield single. Manning would move the runners over and Lloyd would lace a two-run single down the left field line to open the scoring.

McSorley would follow with an RBI single to left and Kara Krieger would reach moving McSorley to third. Alexa Winger would ground out to second scoring McSorley. Marah Hartrick would step in an hit a 1-2 pitch for a double to right scoring Krieger, before Turner got a strike out to end the inning trailing 5-0.

Both teams went scoreless in the fourth and Central put up one in the fifth to cut the lead. Turner led off with a single to center and Benner hit one deep to left for a double, but Turner was gunned down at the plate on the play.

Benner moved to third on the throw home and scored when Makayla Morrison reached on an infield hit. Zoe Eschman singled with two outs, but Watkins would ground out to short to end the threat.

New London would add an insurance run in the top of the seventh and then Manning set the Lady Hawks down in order for the win.

Hopp led the Lady Hawks with two hits on the night. Halo Arrowood, Eschman, Shanna Buford, Benner and Turner all had hits. Turner suffered the loss (2-1) going all seven, striking out three without allowing a walk and gave up 13 hits.

Central Lee falls to 1-3 on the year and travels to Hillcrest Academy in Kalona for a game tonight at 6 p.m.