Lady Vandals end skid against EAWR

By Editor | April 20, 2011 |

Brian Buscher did not like the way his team looked after it took infield practice before facing East Alton-Wood River.

Desperately in need of a win after having lost three games in the three days prior to facing their conference foe last Friday, the Lady Vandals botched some grounders and made some poor throws before the game.

“I don’t think we’re mentally ready to play,” Buscher said as he passed the dugout to turn in the lineup card before the start of the game.

Vandalia quickly erased doubt by scoring three times in the bottom of the first inning to take a quick lead, and freshman Kylie Sellers later broke a 4-4 tie when EAWR mishandled her bunt during the sixth inning, allowing the go-ahead run to score during a 7-4 win.

The Lady Vandals had lost to Altamont, 13-2, last Tuesday before dropping close games to Centralia (4-3) and undefeated Shelbyville (10-7) the next two days.

Breaking that skid was a must for Buscher on Friday.

“After playing a tough game against Altamont, a game we should have won against Centralia and showing a real good effort (in a loss to) Shelbyville, sometimes you (might) have a letdown,” he said. “This was one we needed to have.”

Senior Amy Walton and junior Alex Henna both scored on Sellers’ bunt to put Vandalia ahead, 6-4.

Sellers scored an insurance run after junior Molli Tedrick and sophomore Morgan Whightsil grounded out on fielder’s choices to the shortstop, and while base hits would have been nice in that situation, Buscher was pleased the two helped manufacture a run.

“If you put the ball in play to get in a run, that’s unselfish,” Buscher said. “That’s what we need to be thinking at the plate.”

On a couple of the early runs, however, that probably wasn’t the case.

The Lady Vandals scored their first run after senior Whitney Newsom was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and senior Audra Donaldson drove in another two pitches later on a fielder’s choice.

Walton then brought in freshman Megan Godoyo on what was scored as a sacrifice fly to the second baseman, who had turned to run into the outfield to catch the blooping pop up.

“We’re going to take a chance, because Megan has good speed and the girl is going backward,” Buscher said. “She has a 75-foot throw with her back turned, while she’s probably not expecting (Godoyo) to go.”

The next inning, Whightsil scored from third after sophomore Amber Bruno got into a rundown between first and second base.

Box
EAWR 1-0-0-3-0-0-0—4-6-1
VHS 3-1-0-0-0-3-X—7-7-0
WP: Godoyo

Vandalia at Shelbyville
The Lady Vandals lost to Shelbyville, 10-7, last Thursday.

The Lady Rams scored seven runs across the first two innings, but Vandalia made a comeback with six runs in the third.

Shelbyville, which is ranked No. 4 in the state, scored one in the third and two more in the sixth to secure a four-run lead.

The Lady Vandals got one run back after Whightsil tripled and scored on a Bruno single in the seventh. Two more runners reached base but were stranded.

Box
VHS 0-0-6-0-0-0-1—7-9-4
SHS 2-5-1-0-0-2—10-11-0
LP: Godoyo

Vandalia at Centralia
Last Wednesday, Vandalia lost to Centralia, 4-3.

Tedrick and Godoyo both pitched, with Godoyo taking the loss after allowing two runs.

Godoyo had an inside-the-park home run in the first inning.

The Lady Vandals led until the fourth, when Centralia tied the game. The Orphan Annies had a game-winning single in the bottom of the seventh.

Box
VHS 2-0-1-0-0-0-0—3-8-2
CHS 0-0-2-1-0-0-1—4-4-0
LP: Godoyo

Junior Alex Henna slides into home after an error was committed on a bunt by freshman Kylie Sellers to give the Lady Vandals a 6-4 lead against East Alton-Wood River last Friday.