South Laurel stuns McCreary

Pressed into service for her first Varsity start on the mound, eighth grader Macey Welchel faced perhaps the toughest challenge of her young career.

Taking the mound against South Laurel the young hurler eventually took the loss, but threw an impressive game nonetheless – considering the competition.

The Lady Cardinals were 13th Region Champions last year – advancing to the second round of the State Tournament, and entered Friday’s game with a 15-5 record.

A shaky first inning, coupled with sloppy defense behind her led to the Cardinals jumping out to a 7-0 lead, but the young hurler weathered the early storm.

Welchel’s first varsity pitch hit the first batter she faced, but she quickly regained her composure. The second hitter reached on an infield single followed by the next two reaching on errors and driving in two runs. South Laurel would score five more runs on two hits and a fielders’ choice before McCreary got out of the inning.

In total only four of the runs were earned.

Welchel was strong the rest of the way. Over the final six innings she allowed only two more runs, one of which was unearned. She struck out three batters and recorded one put out and five assists.

On the offensive side the Lady Raiders struggled against the Lady Cardinal pitching. McCreary only recorded two hits over the first six innings, but finally started to break through in the bottom of the 7th.

Cierra Terry led off the frame with a double to left, and scored on a Haley Jones base hit to left. Welchel drove in the second run of the inning with a double, but that was the final hit as the Lady Raiders fell 9-2.