•April 6, 2016•

By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter

Sullivan softball had a tough start to conference play last Wednesday as the team fell in an away contest to Tuscola 7-1. However, the squad rebounded with an impressive 14-1 result over Decatur MacArthur on 15 hits in just four innings.

Sullivan head coach Andy Wagner credited an improved approach at the plate with the offensive success. “We really emphasized our hitting approach this week. We changed a few approaches with a few of the girls, and we swung the bats a little bit better today.”

Heidi Clements pitched both games for the Lady Redskins and held Tuscola to one run over three innings before a late Warriors rally pushed the contest out of reach. Against Decatur Clements put together an all-conference performance going the distance and coming up one out short of a shutout. Clements allowed only four hits, and MacArthur’s lone run came on a fielder’s choice with the Lady Redskins up by 14. Coach Wagner praised the attitude of Clements through the early part of the schedule. “Heidi pitched her tail off against Tuscola. She threw her changeup more today and deserved a shutout; she threw that well.”

The Lady Redskins put away a talented MacArthur team early with a nine run second inning. Clements helped her own cause with a leadoff single. A walk and a bunt single followed before a line drive to right brought home the game first run.

Irie Dulin crushed a triple to the gap in right field to clear the bases and make it a 4-0 lead with just one out in the inning. An infield single followed before Bailee Pratt came up with the hit of the game.      Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.