During an important District seeding matchup yesterday, Villa lost a heartbreaker at Lloyd 5-4 in extra innings.

 

Lloyd took the lead in the first inning 1-0. From there it was a very intense game, with both teams battling it out on the field and at the plate, inning by inning.

 

In the 2nd inning, Camdyn Meier (6th grade/RF) walked and then pinch runner Neema Adley (8th grade) scored off steals and overthrows, tying the game 1-1.

 

In the 4th inning with one out, Brooke Meier (freshman/P) started a rally for the Blue Lightning with a solid shot to RF, followed by a walk from Gabrielle Schulte (senior/SS) who was replaced by pinch runner Casey Fulton (7th grade). Then at the plate was Carol Dosker (junior/LF) laying down a single. Out #2 came as the next Villa player at bat struck out. Stepping to the plate again was 6th grader Camdyn Meier with 2-outs and bases loaded. With a short fly to LF which had the outfield scrambling, the Lloyd player appeared to catch it but the ball dropped out of her glove as she was running out of bounds. Villa took the lead 4-1 as the bottom of the 4th inning began.

 

To summarize the remainder of the game - with Lloyd recording only 6 hits, they were able to capitalize on several infield errors and eventually tie the game sending it to extra innings.

Unfortunately, with Brooke Meier in scoring position after another single in the top of the 8th, stealing 2nd and 3rd, Villa was unable to bring her home.

Lloyd then took the lead winning in the 8th after a single, strikeout, fly-out to RF, and two fielding errors.

 

Alexa Meier (senior/1B) recorded a hit during the evening but the Villa offense overall struggled at times, leaving runners on base after walks and/or errors.

 

Brooke Meier led all hitters going 2 for 3 at the plate while recording 10 strikeouts.

 

The youngest Meier daughter/Villa player, Camdyn Meier, had 2 RBI on the day and made three spectacular catches in RF, holding the winning run on third base at the time.

 

Villa's record is now 4-3.

 

After graduating 5 seniors last year (4 from starting positions), Villa is a young and developing team. Their starters include 3 seniors, 1 junior, 1 sophomore, 3 freshman and 1 6th grader. The program continues to build with interest and fresh talent as they have expanded their roster to include several new players and younger ones returning to the field now that they are junior high age and eligible for the high school team. Look for Villa to continue to surprise their opponents this season and in years to come.

Just a question. I thought sixth graders were not allowed to play varsity sports. Was she grandfathered in or am I incorrect?

Just a question. I thought sixth graders were not allowed to play varsity sports. Was she grandfathered in or am I incorrect?

 

You are correct, per KHSAA guidelines 6th graders are not eligible for high school level teams. However, this player was grandfathered in.

You are correct, per KHSAA guidelines 6th graders are not eligible for high school level teams. However, this player was grandfathered in.

 

So she got varsity time as a 4th grader? Wasn't the 6th grader rule in effect last year as well?

So she got varsity time as a 4th grader? Wasn't the 6th grader rule in effect last year as well?

 

Yes.....she has been on the roster since 4th grade at which point she had some varsity time and again in the 5th grade. This year she is a varsity starter. Her grade level is not really startling news in NKY. There have been several KY Enquirer articles on the Villa softball program, Coach Meier and his 3 daughters over the past two seasons.

Not sure who was keeping score for Villa but the official scorebook recorded 8 hits for Lloyd to Villa's 3 hits. Lloyd started the bottom of the 8th with getting on base by an error, moving to 2nd on a perfectly executed bunt, came to 3rd base on a wild pitch, and with one out came home with the winning run on a single. It should also be noted that Lloyd's Rachel Crawford recorded a school record 16 strikeouts to pick up the win.

Overall it was a great game by both teams and both should be acknowledged for their efforts.

Not sure who was keeping score for Villa but the official scorebook recorded 8 hits for Lloyd to Villa's 3 hits. Lloyd started the bottom of the 8th with getting on base by an error, moving to 2nd on a perfectly executed bunt, came to 3rd base on a wild pitch, and with one out came home with the winning run on a single. It should also be noted that Lloyd's Rachel Crawford recorded a school record 16 strikeouts to pick up the win.

 

I personally am extremely confident in the Villa scorekeeper, and I know the Villa coaching staff and athletic department are as well.

 

Lloyd pitcher, Crawford, did have an exceptional game, striking out 14 for the evening. As I said, the Villa offense struggled with only 4 hits versus Lloyd's 6 on the night...I guess there is discrepancy on recorded hits and errors by the scorekeepers. Not sure what to say about the difference in strikeouts recorded for Crawford...fairly cut and dry statistic to obtain and verify from the book. I might ask Coach Meier at our next game just out of curiosity. Of course, as you pointed out, Lloyd was home team and kept the official scorebook.

 

However, your recollection of the bottom of the 8th is incorrect (and upon reviewing my notes after the chaos of the long night, I too am not completely accurate).

 

It took me a while, but since I don't know all the Lloyd players by name, I had to look-up rosters on the school and KHSAA website.

They should be identified correctly.

 

Lloyd scored 1 run in each of the last 4 innings (5th - 8th). In the 5th with 1 out, Cunningham had a triple and was batted in by teammate Foley. In the 6th, Crawford had a double, then WP moving her over to 3B, which resulted in her scoring with the next batter. In the 7th, Foley had a single and eventually scored after Villa errors with subsequent batters.

 

Tied 4-4 in the 8th, Brooke Meier led off with a single, SB and WP, but was stranded at 3B as the next three Villa batters in a row went down.

 

At the bottom of the 8th, Sexton gets on for Lloyd after another Villa error, resulting in an overthrow with extra base. With a "perfectly executed" sacrifice bunt by Sears and strikeout by the next player, there are now 2 outs with Sexton on 3B. Cunningham comes through in the clutch with a single scoring Sexton for the Lloyd win, 5-4.

 

There is no doubt both teams deserve recognition for their efforts. As always, I am happy to have Villa's opponents provide their own summary of the game. I am not nearly as efficient as NCC's LB to provide the play-by-play for both teams. My goal is to utilize BGP for quick highlights of the Villa games and acknowledgement of any stellar plays or stats by the girls when appropriate.

 

Good luck to both Villa and Lloyd in their remaining seasons!

I personally am extremely confident in the Villa scorekeeper, and I know the Villa coaching staff and athletic department are as well.

 

Lloyd pitcher, Crawford, did have an exceptional game, striking out 14 for the evening. As I said, the Villa offense struggled with only 4 hits versus Lloyd's 6 on the night...I guess there is discrepancy on recorded hits and errors by the scorekeepers. Not sure what to say about the difference in strikeouts recorded for Crawford...fairly cut and dry statistic to obtain and verify from the book. I might ask Coach Meier at our next game just out of curiosity. Of course, as you pointed out, Lloyd was home team and kept the official scorebook.

 

However, your recollection of the bottom of the 8th is incorrect (and upon reviewing my notes after the chaos of the long night, I too am not completely accurate).

 

It took me a while, but since I don't know all the Lloyd players by name, I had to look-up rosters on the school and KHSAA website.

They should be identified correctly.

 

Lloyd scored 1 run in each of the last 4 innings (5th - 8th). In the 5th with 1 out, Cunningham had a triple and was batted in by teammate Foley. In the 6th, Crawford had a double, then WP moving her over to 3B, which resulted in her scoring with the next batter. In the 7th, Foley had a single and eventually scored after Villa errors with subsequent batters.

 

Tied 4-4 in the 8th, Brooke Meier led off with a single, SB and WP, but was stranded at 3B as the next three Villa batters in a row went down.

 

At the bottom of the 8th, Sexton gets on for Lloyd after another Villa error, resulting in an overthrow with extra base. With a "perfectly executed" sacrifice bunt by Sears and strikeout by the next player, there are now 2 outs with Sexton on 3B. Cunningham comes through in the clutch with a single scoring Sexton for the Lloyd win, 5-4.

 

There is no doubt both teams deserve recognition for their efforts. As always, I am happy to have Villa's opponents provide their own summary of the game. I am not nearly as efficient as NCC's LB to provide the play-by-play for both teams. My goal is to utilize BGP for quick highlights of the Villa games and acknowledgement of any stellar plays or stats by the girls when appropriate.

 

Good luck to both Villa and Lloyd in their remaining seasons!

 

For a small fee, which will be donated to the NewCath softball program, I am willing to train anyone. :lol2: