Clary, Cougars roll Huskies
RENO – Freshman Tyra Clary did it in the circle and at the plate on Tuesday afternoon at Reno, leading Spanish Springs to a commanding 12-1 victory.
The Cougars (25, 5, 17-2), who won for the eighth straight game – including a pair of forfeits from Hug on Saturday – are tied with Reed for first with three games to play. Bishop Manogue was also knotted with Reed and Spanish Springs, but got upset on Tuesday by Damonte Ranch, 6-1.
The Huskies (14-13, 11-8) saw their mini three-game winning streak snapped and fell from a three-way tie for fourth down to sixth.
Updated 4A North softball standings. pic.twitter.com/y7rQbUiswe
— Nathan Shoup (@Trib_Shoup) May 3, 2017
Toeing the rubber, Clary spun a complete game two-hitter. She struck out four and only walked one. After giving up a two-out solo home run in the bottom of the third to Alexia Young, she faced the minimum until surrendering a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh.
“She (Clary) did really well. I mean, she hit her spots,” Spanish Springs coach Jeff Davidson said. “One pitch she missed on, and they jumped on it, but Tyra did a good job today.”
With the Cougs up 2-1 in the top of the fifth, two outs, and the bases loaded, Clary sent the ball off the base of the wall in right field for a bases-clearing double.
She finished 3-for-4 with 5 RBIs, including a two-run single in the sixth that put the guests up 9-1 as part of a five-run rally.
“We were threatening back and forth and finally we got that key hit and that kind of just broke it open,” Davidson said.
Aubrey Parks (1-for-3, RBI, run) gave Spanish Springs an early 1-0 lead in the top of the third with an RBI single to center, scoring Katelyn Townsend from third. Courtney Huff attempted to score from second but was gunned down.
In the top of the fourth, following Young’s solo shot, Rylee Retzer (1-for-2, three walks, three runs) delivered her own solo home run to put the Cougars back in front, 2-1.
Freshman Ramsi Dolan snuck a two-run double just inside third base that rolled into the left field corner in the top of the seventh that accounted for the final two runs of the ball game.
Katelyn Townsend finished 3-for-5 and scored four times.
The Cougars play their final home game of the season on Thursday, against the same Huskies.
“You have to have short-term memory,” Davidson said. “Because in the big picture, this game’s over and done with.”
Thursday’s contest precedes Saturday’s doubleheader at Reed which could decide the league title. The Cougars, the defending state champs, have won two league titles the last three years and seven of the last 11 total.
“This is good competition at the right time going into regionals,” Davidson said. “You’re playing a good team in Reno and then you’re going to have Reed at the end of the year. I mean, what better way to end it than with four good games at the end of the season?”
Raiders get day off
Reed was the only active 4A North club not to play on Tuesday afternoon.
The Raiders (27-2-1, 17-2) picked up a forfeit victory off Hug and remain knotted with Spanish Springs atop the 4A North.
Another off day/forfeit victory on Thursday leads into a Saturday’s season-ending home doubleheader against Spanish Springs that could dictate the league title.
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