GRAY — Maddie Diamond spent 2023 watching from the dugout after injuring her MPFL. She’s spent her junior year at Science Hill driving in runs.
Diamond’s 10th home run of the season broke the ice Friday night. And it turned out to be all Science Hill needed as the Lady Hilltoppers defeated West Ridge 5-2 to open the District 1-4A tournament.
Locked in a scoreless battle, Science Hill (20-8) got its first two runners on base in the bottom of the third. Chloe Conner wore a pitch and Beth Pridemore walked. Then it was time for Diamond to shine, as she clobbered a 1-0 offering over the left-field wall for a 3-0 lead.
“Chloe and Beth did their jobs … I knew I had to hit something deep enough to get them in,” said Diamond, who verbally committed to Delaware in November. “I was really looking for solid contact mostly, just to get one run in.”
She did much more, although she wasn’t sure after making contact off the end of her bat. Diamond even admitted to coach Megan Harmon as she rounded third she didn’t think it was deep enough at first.
Diamond finished 2-for-3, and her three RBIs gave her 40 for the year.
And the hits kept coming in the third. Isabel Meeks and Lora Wilgus followed with back-to-back singles. Science Hill’s fourth hit of the frame, a ground-ball single by Annabelle Eanes, plated Tiffany Lee and Reagan Carroll to make it 5-0.
“It’s May. We want to be surviving and advancing in May,” Harmon said. “I would’ve loved to see some other numbers than the (third) inning, but I’m not going to be picky at this point.”
RIDGE RECOVERS
Other than the third inning, Science Hill managed just three hits against West Ridge pitchers Victoria Browder and Miranda Henley. Browder saw the bulk of the action, striking out four and giving up a pair of earned runs on five hits over five frames of work.
And the 5-0 cushion didn’t last. Nila Horne and Henley started the fourth with back-to-back singles, the latter plating a run. Henley then made it 5-2 when Savannah Pogue hit into a one-out fielder’s choice.
In fact, West Ridge (23-16) outhit the Lady Hilltoppers 11-7.
Meeks, however, stranded 12 Lady Wolves on base, seven over the first three innings. She struck out five and walked just one.
“Isabel did a really good job getting outs when she had to get outs,” Harmon said. “Defense played really well behind her.”
Kami Clark, Caydence Spears, Horne and Henley all had two hits for the Lady Wolves, and Lily Frazier doubled.
Malia Maroukas and Kaylee Pickering both singled for Science Hill.
UP NEXT
Science Hill faces No. 2 Dobyns-Bennett at 5 p.m. Monday, the winner advancing to face No. 1 Daniel Boone at 5 p.m. Tuesday. West Ridge plays the loser of Monday’s game for survival at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
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