CHARCMO – Greenbrier West opened their 2023 season with a 10-0 mercy-rule win over Coalfield Conference foe Richwood on Monday, March 20.
Freshman Brilee Redden went 3-3 with an RBI and three stolen bases. Redden also toed the rubber in relief of Michaela Alley with two outs in the top of the fourth inning and struck out four Lumberjack batters to close out the win.
Alley got the Cavaliers started with a shutout inning, striking out three while allowing a two-out single. Alley went 3 2/3 innings, striking out seven, and allowed only the first inning base hit. In the top of the fourth inning, Alley sustained an injury to her knee which forced her removal from the game.
Greenbrier West got off to a slow start offensively in the first inning but a combination of base hits and walks in the second inning got West on the scoreboard. Redden started the assault with a line drive drilled back toward Lumberjack pitcher Katie Stanley. Redden proceeded to steal both second and third bases before senior Emma Ames collected an RBI single to left field. Ames stole both second and third as well while Maddie Fields earned a four-pitch walk. Fields stole second with Alley at the plate, and Alley drew a walk to load the bases for West. Hannah Sweet drew full count walk and collected an RBI on the Ames score. Stanley recovered to strike out both Brooke Patterson and Preslee Treadway, then induced a groundout from Desteney Walker to leave the bases full. West led 2-0 at the end of two innings.
Alley made quick work of the Lumberjacks in the top of the third inning, striking out two and assisting on a groundout to sit Richwood down three up, three down.
After Julia Herndon nearly reached first on a dropped third strike, Redden resumed her stellar debut with a sharp single to the left side but was then called out on appeal after she attempted to steal second base. The Cavaliers rallied with two outs, though, as Ames walked and Fields reached on a dropped third strike. Ames then stole third and scored on a passed ball. Alley reached base on a full count walk and Brooklyn Adkins checked in as her courtesy runner. Fields followed Ames’ lead by stealing third then advancing to score on yet another Lumberjack miscue. Adkins became the third Cavalier of the inning to swipe second and third base before scoring on a passed ball, putting the Cavaliers up 5-0. Hannah Sweet singled before Peyton Sprong lined out to end the inning.
Alley had a tough start to the top of the fourth inning when she walked the lead-off batter Stanley. Alley then hit Emily Browning to put runners at first and second with nobody out. Alley recovered to strike out Sophie Smalley and Delaney White flied out to Treadway. Alley had to leave the game at that point following a knee injury but is expected to resume play soon.
Redden replaced Alley in the circle and took Sarah Amick to a full count before sitting her down with a called third strike.
The Cavaliers wasted no time attacking Richwood pitching. Treadway led off with a double to right field followed by a Walker pop-fly single to center field. Herndon stroked an RBI-double to centerfield followed by a passed ball score by Walker. Redden stepped in and belted out her third hit of the evening, scoring Herndon and staking West out to an 8-0 advantage. The Cavaliers weren’t through. Ames and Fields both singled to load the bases for West.
As Kyndall Taylor stood in for Greenbrier West, the Cavaliers were on the verge of blowing the game open when Ames was picked off at second base. Now with one out, Fields stole second and Redden advanced home on the throw to build the lead to 9-0. Taylor grounded out to Stanley for the second out, but the Cavaliers scratched out another run on an RBI-single by Lacey Walker. Patterson ended the inning with a groundout to Stanley, but West held a 10-0 advantage as the game moved into the top of the fifth.
Redden then sealed the victory, striking out three Lumberjack batters.
Ames went 2-2 in the win with an RBI, 2 runs scored, and four stolen bases. Treadway was 2-3 with a double. Fields was 1-2 with 2 runs and 5 stolen bases. Herdon, Lacey Walker, Desteney Walker, and Sweet all added hits for the Cavaliers.
Katie Stanley had the lone hit for Richwood.
RW (0-1): 0 0 0 0 0 – 0 1 0
GW (1-0): 0 2 3 5 X – 10 12 0
RW: Katie Stanley, Kelsie Fields. GW: Michaela Alley, Brilee Redden and Julia Herndon. WP – Alley. LP – Stanley. Hitting – RW: Stanley 1-1. GW: Redden 3-3, RBI; Ames 2-2, RBI; Treadway 2-3, 2B; Herndon 1-3, 2B, RBI; L. Walker 1-1, RBI; M. Fields 1-2; D. Walker 1-3; Sweet 1-1.
