GHS girls win two straight in GRC, Dixon shines on mound

Gallatin’s Lady Bulldogs are quickly finding out that pitching and defense win ballgames.

Freshman Lacey Dixon hurled a two-hit shutout Tuesday as Gallatin defeated South Harrison, 1-0, in a key Grand River Conference showdown in Bethany. With the victory, Gallatin moved to 2-1 in league play heading into Thursday’s tilt against Stanberry.

As good as Dixon was on the mound, her teammates were equally spectacular in the field. GHS head coach Jeremy Hobbs praised his defense, particularly an outfield that included Katie Jarboe in right, Trisha Sprague in center and Jennifer Guffey in left.

“All three made great plays,” he began. “Katie made a super catch of a ball against the fence. Trisha caught some balls on a dead run and Jennifer recorded the last out on a deep drive.”

Lindsey Robertson drove in what proved to be the winning run in the third inning with an infield single. Kinsey Batson, who reached on a walk, came home with the game’s lone run. Ayrica Batson singled for Gallatin’s only other hit of the game.

Dixon’s line showed seven innings pitched with no walks, eight strikeouts and two hits allowed.

Outstanding pitching combined with solid defense and patience at the plate to produce an 8-3 Gallatin victory over Princeton last Thursday in Grand River Conference softball action on the GHS field. Dixon earned her first varsity win on the mound and allowed only two earned run in seven innings off three weak singles. Lady Bulldog batters broke the game open with five runs in the third inning after sending nine to the plate.

At one point Dixon and the Lady Bulldogs retired 17 straight batters. Dixon struck out the final hitter she faced in the first inning and did not allow a baserunner until one out in the top of the seventh. Only one of Princeton’s pair of runs in the first inning was earned.

Princeton’s lead was short-lived. Kelsie Parker struck out in the first inning but advanced all the way to third on a passed ball. She would score on a wild pitch. Sprague and Ayrica Batson each drew a base on balls and Dixon plated both runners with a single up the middle.

Gallatin’s third inning opened with an Ayrica Batson single, but she was forced at second on Dixon’s fielder’s choice. Alyssa Strein walked and Kinsey Batson was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Brittney Hixson’s grounder to third was misplayed, allowing Dixon to score. Strein came home on a passed ball and Batson added another run after coming in from third on a wild pitch. Jarboe singled to score Hixson. She stole second and scored all the way from second on a bad pick-off throw.

As they did in the second inning, the Lady Bulldogs loaded the bases in the fifth but didn’t score. Pinch-hitter Hattie Rains doubled, Hixson reached on an error and Robertson laid down a bunt single. A strikeout and ground out ended the GHS threat.

Princeton scored a lone run in the seventh inning but Dixon snuffed the rally with a pair of game-ending strikeouts.

Gallatin hosts Stanberry on Thursday at 5:30. The Lady Bulldogs will participate in the rescheduled Albany Tournament on Saturday. Since Worth County had a prior commitment, the field has been dropped to five teams, under the following schedule: 9 a.m. Albany vs. North Andrew and Gallatin vs. Stanberry; 11 a.m. Albany vs. Gallatin and Stanberry vs. Princeton; 1 p.m. Albany vs. Princeton and North Andrew vs. Gallatin; 3 p.m. Albany vs. Stanberry and Princeton vs. North Andrew.

The tournament championship will be based upon overall record. Albany’s final game will not count as part of the Lady Warriors’ 3-game record, but it will count for Stanberry.