Lady Lions force softball extra innings before falling to Panthers

Thursday, May 12, 2011 -1 a.m.

ELIZABETHTOWN -In an early season test, the young Elizabethtown-Lewis Lady Lions varsity softball team showed that they could stand paw-to-paw with the Lady Panthers of Crown Point.

KyLee Cassavaugh scored the game-tying run in the bottom of the sixth inning, forcing extra innings before the Panthers emerged with an 8-4 win May 9.

"There is no quit in these girls," Lions head coach Jim Monty said. "They were down a run late and then down six runs in the ninth inning, and they fought hard both times to get back in it."

The Lions held a 1-0 lead in the first inning after Alyssa Sullivan reached on a walk and scored on a wild pitch.

Crown Point responded with runs in the third and fourth innings to give the Panthers a 2-1 lead.

Leading off the sixth, Cassavaugh connected on one of her two base hits in the game, stealing second and getting to third on a wild pitch. Lions pitcher Andrea Le Vien then grounded out to second base, scoring Cassavaugh to tie the game at 2-2.

The teams then exchanged zeros in the seventh and eighth innings.

In the top of the ninth, the Panthers were able to load the bases with no outs and then capitalize on six Lion errors to plate six runs.

However, the Lions responded in the bottom half of the inning, scoring twice before Crown Point pitcher Lindsay Brace recorded the final out.

"There was a lot a pressure, and this is not a situation you can work on," Monty said.

"We had seven sophomores out there, and I couldn't be prouder of these girls. They now know that they can play with (Crown Point)."

Le Vien pitched the full nine innings, allowing six hits and only two earned runs while striking out eight.

Denpubs.com

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