A clutch hit can come from anywhere.
Especially with the Lisbon softball lineup. From leadoff to No. 9, the ninth-ranked (Class 2A) Lions can come through in the clutch.
“I have full faith in all of my girls,” Lisbon coach
Abby Shultz said. “In that they can get the job done.” On Wednesday, June 18, Lisbon got it done to beat Northeast 6-5 in a non-conference game at Bunting Field at Miller Ball Park.
“We’re all pretty confident when each batter goes up, no matter the situation,” senior Gretchen Moehlman said. “If we have no runners on, two outs, or whatever the situation is with people on base. We have a lot of confidence in each other.”
Northeast, which run-ruled the Lions last season, 10-0, got out to a quick 2-0 lead after the first inning. Lisbon, meanwhile, left five runners on base the first two innings.
But all that changed in the fourth. Lisbon used four hits, a walk, a sacrifice fly and an error to plate five runs. Moehlman had a two-run double to center field, and senior Sarah Dietsch followed that up with an RBI double of her own.
Another run scored on an error, and senior Addie Clark, the leadoff hitter, capped the scoring with an RBI single.
“We’ve talked about confidence all season long, and just producing,” Shultz said. “They’ve got the skills, they trusted their training tonight and they did well.”
Northeast tied the game with a run in the fifth, and two in the sixth. Rebel leadoff hitter Cadence Driscoll hit a clutch two-run single to knot the game at 5-5.
Freshman Kyla Kahl drew a walk to open the bottom of the sixth inning, and her courtesy runner, junior Lohgan Anderson, scored when junior Kamryn Kahl doubled to center.
“I just use the same approach every at-bat,” Kamryn Kahl said. “Visualize it. See it. Drive it.”
That proved to be the game winner. Kyla Kahl set down the Rebels in order in the top of the seventh inning: Fly ball, strike out, ground out.
Kyla Kahl finished with five strikeouts and two walks, both in the first inning.
The week started with a Tri-Rivers sweep over Starmont, 15-1 and 10-1, on Monday, June 16.
In the first game, the Lions used eight hits and seven walks. Kyla Kahl had a home run and four RBIs. Emma Pleasant and Sarah Dietsch hit doubles and Moehlman had a triple and was 2-for-3 at the plate.
In the second game, Addie Clark and Pleasant each hit 2-for-3 at the plate. Sarah Dietsch had a double and Alexa Roos had a triple and two RBIs.
A doubleheader scheduled for Friday, June 20, at Davenport West was rained out. So no second stop on the revenge tour. (The Falcons beat the Lions twice a year ago.)
Lisbon (13-7, 11-3) continues to cultivate its clutch hitting with the postseason creeping closer.
“I’d say that’s what is special about this year’s team,” Kamryn Kahl said. “We’re all pretty good hitters up and down the lineup. It makes us special, and I think will take us far.”
“This is a turning point,” Shultz said. “We’re the team that everyone wants to beat now. And we want that hosting spot (in regionals) this year. So now, it is game on.”
“We’re pretty excited,” Moehlman said. “We really want to host. We know what we’re capable of. We just try not to think about the pressure.”