La Monte happy to take free passes in 15-2 win over Smithton

The Smithton (0-2) softball team had trouble on the mound against La Monte (1-0) on Thursday afternoon at Centennial Park. The Lady Vikings beat the Lady Tigers 15-2 in the Kaysinger Conference matchup.

Smithton pitchers Brittney Millsap (9) and Cassie Plaummer (7) combined to walk 16 La Monte batters in four innings. The game ended due to the 10-run rule.

“Our pitching is really young and we are learning to play positions during the game,” Smithton coach Aaron Ringen said.

Brianna Davis was sharp on the hill for the Lady Vikings, striking out seven in a five-inning complete game.

Smithton, the visiting team on the scoreboard, took a first-inning lead. Ciera Monsees reached on an error, then stole second and third base. Millsap drove Monsees in for the first run, but she was left stranded on second.

The 1-0 lead was short-lived.

Millsap walked the first five Lady Viking batters, who continued to take bases as pitches got past the catcher. Smithton got one out and then walked another batter. Plummer took over and got the next two outs to end the inning with La Monte leading 6-1.

“Our game plan is to be aggressive on the base paths and make them throw the ball away,” La Monte coach Dabeka Kirk said. “We have a couple of defensive things to tweak, but it wasn’t too bad for our first game.”

In the second inning, Smithton’s Paige Dowdy hit a double and stole third. Gina Schlobom hit a single to score Dowdy and made the score 6-2. The Lady Tigers left two stranded.

La Monte’s first two batters walked to start the second. Dara Davis hit a double to score both players. Then Shelli Taylor hit a double to score Davis. The Lady Vikings led 9-2 after two.

Smithton was shut down in the third inning.

In La Monte’s half of the third, Kylie Sullivan walked and Kelsey Cox and Alyssa Johnson singled. Sullivan scored on a passed ball, while the others advanced a base. Cox then scored on a passed ball. The inning ended with La Monte leading 11-2.

Smithton got a couple of hits in the fourth, but no one was able to score.

In the bottom of the fourth, La Monte continued to draw walks and take bases when the ball got past the catcher. The inning ended with La Monte up 15-2.

Smithton failed to score in the fifth inning, and the game was called.