Republic mounted a late comeback attempt, but fell short with the tying run at the plate in a 10-6 loss to Carthage on Senior Night in Republic Tuesday.
After the game, Republic recognized seniors Mia Carnes, Madi Chevalier, Jayma Pitchford, Kate Stulce, and Maddie Taylor. Denny McHenry, in his first year as head coach after serving as an assistant last season, said only two of the five seniors played last year, but they’ve stepped into their leadership roles.
“The relationship with our girls has been fantastic,” McHenry said. “They show up for practice and they do everything that we ask them to do. And our seniors have been leaders for us.”
McHenry said the seniors have helped him teach the fundamentals to younger players who have not played much, and they have kept doing it through a tough season.
“It’s easy to do all that stuff when you’re winning,” McHenry said. “It becomes a little harder when you’re not. But they’ve done everything I’ve asked them to do.”
McHenry said injuries have made the season difficult, but as the team heals up, he expects to compete in a “wide-open” district.
Game page →Carthage scored four runs in the first inning and led the rest of the way. Maddie Carter doubled twice in the first three innings and Harper Lankford ran for her both times and scored. Sacrifice flies by Chloe Simpson and Maddie Taylor helped cut the lead to 6-3. Carthage pushed it to 8-3 in the fourth.
Pitchford started in the circle, and Taylor came on in relief in the fourth. Taylor worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth and retired Carthage in order in the sixth.
Republic scored twice in the bottom of the sixth when Simpson reached on an error with the bases loaded, but Carthage got the runs back with a two-out, two-run single in the seventh. In the bottom of the seventh, Carter singled in Kendra Goeke with the bases loaded to make it 10-6, and Carnes struck out with the bases loaded to end the game.
Carter finished 3-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI. Emma Ellison had two hits, and Carthage out-hit Republic 11-10.
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