Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PEDRO — The Beatles once sang the song “Fixing A Hole.” The Portsmouth West Lady Senators must have changed the words to “Finding A Hole.”

West was able to find the holes in the Rock Hill infield as the Lady Senators had 15 hits — all singles — as they edged the Redwomen 7-5 in nine innings on Friday in the Division III sectional finals.

Sami Nixon struck out eight and walked only one, but West was able to make contact to produce runs.

“Sami didn’t throw a bad game, they just put the ball in play and found holes in our defense. They didn’t have one extra base hit, but a lot of singles add up,” said Rock Hill coach Sam Gue.

“Our girls kept battling back after the third inning. Our seniors finished with a great career and they have a lot to be proud of. They fought back but came up a little short.”

West took a 4-0 lead in the top of the third inning. Haley Tolliver bunted and reached on an error. Hannah Mayberry and Terra Butcher singled and Megan Shupert bunted a run in. Bobbie Jo Howard and Hannah Cremeans then had RBI singles.

Rock Hill (16-7) came back with two runs in the bottom when Anna Darby walked and Nixon hit a two-run homer.

West got a run back in the fourth on a hit by Tolliver who stole second and third and scored on a hit by Alex Ridout.

The Redwomen cut the deficit to 5-4 in the sixth.

Brooke Hanshaw walked, Hannah Roach doubled and Jenna Lane followed with at two-run double.

Rock Hill tied the game in the seventh when Nixon tripled and scored on a ground out by Kaci Russell.

Butcher and Ridout singled to start the West ninth. Howard was hit by a pitch and Cremeans had a two-run single.

Nixon was 2-4 with two runs batted in. Russell was 2-5.

Ports. West 004 100 002 = 7 15 0

Rock Hill 002 002 100 = 5 8 2

McKenzie Whittaker and Meegan Shupert. Sami Nixon and Brooke Eastham. W-Whittaker (K-3, BB-3). L-Nixon (K-8, BB-1, HBP-1). Hitting-PW: Alex Ridout 3-5, Megan Shupert 1-5 rbi, Bobbie Jo Howard 1-4 rbi, Hannah Cremeans 2-5 rbi-3, McKenzie Whittaker 2-5, Cassidy Tackett 1-5, Haley Tolliver 1-5 rbi, Hannah Mayberry 2-4, Terra Butcher 2-3; RH: Kaci Russell 2-5 rbi, Jill Hairston 1-4, Hannah Roach 1-4, Jenna Lane 1-3 rbi-2, Anna Darby 1-3, Sami Nixon 2-4 rbi-2. 2B-RH: Hannah Roach, Jenna Lane. 3B-RH: Sami Nixon. HR-RH: Sami Nixon.