CLINTON - The post-Shelbi Rentmeister era began on a sour note for the Clinton Lady Maroons Friday night. Five fourth inning runs by the Heyworth Hornets proved to be too much for Clinton, a team that hadn't lost an opener since 2006.
Abby Van Winkle and Emily Lyons combined for five RBI on two hits in the third inning that broke open a 2-1 game. A Dakota Springer RBI single in the fifth gave Heyworth their eighth and final run of an 8-1 victory.
Clinton's lone run came in the first when leadoff hitter and starting pitcher Meghan Matthews scored on a single from Ashley Toberman.
Matthews did well on the mound in her first career varsity start as a pitcher. A disastrous fourth inning spoiled outing. Meghan worked herself out of a pair of jams in the third and fifth innings.
Clinton head coach Emily Starkey said that while the team's infield will stay pretty much the same throughout the year, the outfield will be a rotation until they are confident with what they have.
With the losses of Rentmeister, Casey Barretts and Kristen Wherry, this team may take a few games to gel. But Starkey is confident the team will pick it up as the season progresses.
I agree. The team still has experienced talent in Matthews, Rachel Austin and Emma Donnelly. But what they have now that they haven't in a few years is potentially a star-studded freshman class. Morgan Hickman started at second base Friday and probably will for the next four years. Bailey Walker hopes to fit in well as the team's number two pitcher before taking over as the ace in 2011.
Photo: Clinton outfielder Alicia Mitchell runs the bases during the Lady Maroons' 8-1 loss to Heyworth Friday evening in Clinton.
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