Central Lee girls take out Van Buren

BY CHUCK VANDENBERG
PCC EDITOR

DONNELLSON - Zoe Eschman went 2-4 with 2 RBI as Central Lee knocked off visiting Van Buren Tuesday night 6-1.

Sophie Turner went the distance giving up six hits and one earned run, while striking out eight.

The Lady Hawks book ended three-run 1st and 6th innings to get the win.

In the first Van Buren jumped on top after Turner got the first two outs to open the game. The Warriors' Chelsey Huff doubled a 2-2 offering to center. After a courtesy runner took over, freshman Annabell Cormier singled to center scoring a run. Turner would get a foul pop out to end in the top half.

Zoe Eschman would ground out to start the bottom half, but Macy Watkins would single followed by a hard grounder to left from Daly Brisby. A wild throw in from the outfield allowed Watkins to come all the way around to tie it up, while Brisby stopped at third.

Shanna Buford would then double to center scoring Brisby. Halo Arrowood would put down a bunt that would be misplayed allowing Buford to come in with the third run of the inning. Meghan Hopp would then single moving Arrowood to 3rd, but Turner would line into a double play at short, where Hopp got picked off trying to tag at 1st to end the inning with the Lady Hawks up 3-1.

Both teams gave up a couple singles, but no runs through the sixth inning. Van Buren made a little noise in the sixth when freshman Ally Campbell doubled with two outs, but a ground out would end the threat.

In the bottom of the sixth, Hopp and Turner started the inning drawing walks. Andrea Benner would ground out to first moving the runners into scoring position. Makayla Morrison would then single to third, holding the runners and loading the bases.

Eschman would then stroke a line drive to left for a double scoring Hopp and courtesy runner Sophie Woodley on the throw. Morrison motored all the way to third during the action, where she would score the third run on a passed ball. before Watkins struck out to end the inning.

Turner would go three-up, three-down in the top of the seventh to get the win.

Eschman and Morrison each had two hits for the Lady Hawks (4-1) Eschman had 2 RBI and Buford had a double and a RBI. Brisby went 1-3 with an RBI, Watkins, Hopp and Benner all had hits.

Turner is now 3-1 on the year with a 2.33 ERA and 18 strikeouts.

The Lady Hawks take on Lone Tree Wednesday night in a jayvee/varsity set starting at 5:30 with the varsity set to start at 7 p.m.