Typically, going out of state and competing can be tough for teams that do not know a whole lot about their opponents.
For the Greenbrier East Lady Spartans however, those opponents were just some small obstacles on the proverbial train track that stood in their way.
East completed their 3-game sweep in Myrtle Beach with an 11-0 shellacking of the Midlakes (NY) Lady Eagles early Wednesday morning, April 5.
The Spartans used a perfect balance of offense, pitching, and defense to wrap up their trip. They collected 13 hits, committed just one error, and got another great performance from Josi Ervin on the mound and cruised easily.
After Ervin got out of the top of the first inning, she and Alanis McClary, who was big in this one, singled. Two batters later, McClary came around to score on Lilly Carola’s base hit. Lindsey Black then laced a single to center that scored Ervin, and the Spartans jumped ahead early 2-0.
Catcher Olivia Plybon doubled in the third and later scored when the Eagles committed a crucial error in center field. McClary would then get a base knock that brought Hailey Ervin home, and after the chaotic frame, the Spartans had built a 7-0 lead.
Back-to-back fifth inning doubles from Gracie Gumm and Jenna Groves, two singles from Hailey Ervin and McClary and a 2-run triple by Taylor Boswell sealed the deal for East as the bats never quieted down on the Spartans side.
It’s become rather repetitive, but with Josi Ervin on the hill, 11 runs will win East games every single time. The senior pitched five innings, gave up just one hit and had eight strikeouts.
Emma LaBour, just an eighth grader, started pitching for Midlakes and got roughed up in her 4.1 innings of work. She gave up 13 hits and 11 runs, though just six were earned. Midlakes committed five errors in the field.
East will head back home, just to hit the road again albeit a little shorter trip to St. Albans on April 8.
