By Justin Albers
April 24, 2008 06:55 am
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PENDLETON — Everybody's human.
That’s what the world learned about the Class 4A No. 1-ranked Pendleton Heights softball team last week after the girls lost more games than they did all of last year.
Losses to Carmel, Franklin Central, and Perry Meridian have forced the Arabians to face adversity for the first time during the young season.
“These are some teachable moments and things we will draw upon in future similar situations,” PH coach Scott Hall said. “We’ve just have to get back on track and find a little confidence out there.”
It’s always tough for a team to go on the road, but even more so when seven consecutive games within a week are played away from home. PH (11-3) competed every day except April 17 during a stretch that really tested the players’ mental toughness.
The first two contests went as planned, with the Arabians methodically picking apart Anderson and Highland with 12-0 and 2-0 victories, respectively.
Lindsey Beisser once again controlled the game with a dominant performance on the mound against the Indians. She struck out eight and walked none while allowing only one hit over five innings. Lainie Dishroon and Shonda Garringer led the PH offensive attack with two hits apiece.
“She’s (Beisser) just one of those seven seniors that gives it everything she’s got every time she’s out there,” Hall said. “She will only get better the more time she’s on the mound, so were looking for her to improve every game as well.”
Bunting rarely plays a large role in helping a team win a game, but that was the case on April 15 against the Scots.
PH needed everything it had to eliminate Highland in the Madison County Tournament semifinal on April 11, and this time was no different. With the game scoreless in the fifth inning and the Arabians at the plate, Ashley Warrum laid a bunt down the third-base line and reached safely at first. Casey Jamerson then bunted her over to second and after a throwing error by the Scots’ Stormy Holder, Warrum came home to give PH a 1-0 advantage.
Tiffany Held would add an insurance run when she singled home Erin Falkenberry later in the inning. Then Beisser came on to close the game, retiring eight of the 10 batters she faced and ending the threat when two runners were on base.
“Any win’s big, but Highland especially with them being a sectional opponent and county rival,” Hall said.
Carmel entered the April 16 game against PH unranked, but highly motivated. When a team is ranked No. 1, it always carries a target on its back.
Despite a 1-0 lead entering the fifth inning and a solid pitching performance by Beisser (five strikeouts in six innings), the Arabians suffered their first defeat of the season when the Greyhounds went for three runs in the fifth.
Then came the always-difficult Ben Davis Tournament, where the Arabians met some of the top teams in the Indianapolis area. The tournament started on a sour note when they were defeated 4-3 at the hands of Perry Meridian on Friday night.
PH attempted to turn it around with three games on Saturday, going 2-1 with wins over Decatur Central (9-3) and North Central (12-0) and a loss to Class 4A No. 10 Franklin Central (7-0).
One of the major bright spots in the tournament came in the form of Falkenberry. In Saturday’s two wins, she was 7-for-7 with three home runs, including a grand slam, and nine RBI. Dishroon earned both wins for the Arabians.
“Spring schedule is very difficult on student-athletes,” Hall said about the seven road games in one week. “Any time we get a chance for a break or a study session, we definitely look forward to it.”
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