Carley Jo Penner

MINGO JUNCTION — The game started with a Beaver Local bomb, but Indian Creek rallied the troops and came away with the win.

The Redskins broke the game open in the third inning, en route to an 12-4 victory against the Beavers Thursday evening on Mike Melko Field.

“We bounced back,” Indian Creek (3-3) head coach Angela Penner said. “We played Dover, and we lost to Dover twice. We learned a lot from those two games. We played out at Carrollton (Wednesday). We had one inning where errors hurt us. That is something we are working on. That is something we need to improve on.

“We need to finish. We need to play for a full seven innings. We need to eliminate the errors in the field. We are working on that.

Beaver Local struck first in the top of the first, but Indian Creek responded right back with a run in the home half of the inning. Then, the Redskins recorded eight runs in the third to build a 10-1 lead and take control. The Beavers continued to battle, as they pushed three runs across in the fifth, but the Redskins answered with a pair of runs in their half of the inning.

“We got some hits,” Beaver Local (0-5) head coach Mark Cashdollar said. “We hit the ball. We didn’t get a hit in our last two games. We had been outscored, 51-3.”

Carly Jo Penner picked up the win for Indian Creek. She allowed four runs on five hits, while striking out four and walking one in five innings of work. Trinity Taylor replaced her inside the circle in the sixth, and she pitched the final two innings.

Taylor finished with four strikeouts without walking a batter, allowing a run or giving up a hit.

“They pitched well,” coach Penner said of her two pitchers. “They pitched real well. Carly started, and she threw the ball well. Trinity did a good job in relief.

“We also have another pitcher in Keeley Amis. She has not thrown in relief yet. She has been playing first base, and she has done a good job.”

Addison Eells took the loss for the Beavers. She struck out six, walked two and allowed 11 runs on 10 hits, en route to going the distance. 

“The pitcher pitched (Wednesday),” Cashdollar said. “She is a freshman. She pitched a good game. That one inning where they scored nine runs wasn’t her fault. There were things beyond her control.”

Two of Indian Creek’s 10 hits went for extra bases. 

Carly Jo Penner set the table as the team’s leadoff batter. The Kent State commit was 3 for 3 with two singles, a triple and two RBIs. She also walked in the first, stole two bases and scored on an error.

Also for the Redskins, Kirsten Driscoll collected a two-run single, Emily Buchanan belted a run-scoring double and Gianna Boley tallied an RBI single. Taylor recorded two RBIs, while Maddy Ely, Alexis Dawson, Abby Starkey and Lexi Smarella all delivered a base hit.

Olivia Keller blasted a solo home run for the Beavers. Alexis Jordan added two singles and an RBI, and Cam Young and Ells each contributed a single. Cierrah Thurik produced an RBI.

With one out in the first, Keller launched a solo homer over the fence in left-center giving Beaver Local an early 1-0 advantage. The ball cleared the fence, a set of bleachers and hit the window of an SUV as it was moving in the parking lot. 

The hosts tied the score in the first thanks in large part to the base running of Carly Joe Penner.

“Their pitcher was a lot slower than some of the other pitchers we have faced in other ballgames,” coach Penner said. “We had to adjust. Sometimes that takes a couple of times around the order to adjust. We did a good job at the plate. We made solid contact, and we were able to score some runs.”

Carly Jo Penner tripled to start the third, and she scored on a double by Buchanan, giving Indian Creek the lead at 2-1. Driscoll and Carly Jo Penner each picked up a two-run single in the inning that was aided by some Beaver Local errors. One error, a dropped pop-up on the infield, led to two runs being scored. 

“We always have that one inning,” Cashdollar said. “I don’t know why.”

Trailing 10-1 in the fifth, the Beavers fought back and scored three runs. Thurik plated a run with a groundout, and Jordan ripped an RBI single.

Boley tallied an RBI single in the home half of the inning to increase Indian Creek’s advantage to 11-4, and Taylor capped the scoring by brining home a run with a groundout. 

“Our three seniors — Maddie Ely, Lexi Smarella and Emily Buchanan — all work hard,” coach Penner said. “They provide good leadership. They are trying to lead the team. 

“I am proud of the team, and I am proud of the coaches. We are going to take things one pitch at a time, one game at a time and one day at a time. We are going to keep working. We are going to keep getting better every day.”

UP NEXT

Beaver Local: Tentatively hosts Harrison Central today.

Indian Creek: Tentatively hosts Edison today.

Indian Creek is scheduled to play rival Edison at 5 p.m. today at home.

“It is a big game,” coach Penner said. “Spencer Bendle does a good job with his program. He has been at Edison for a long time. Our girls are looking forward to it. It is always a good, competitive game.”

Indian Creek 12, Beaver Local 4

Beaver Local 1-0-0 0-3-0 0 — 4 5 4

Indian Creek 1-0-9 0-2-0 x — 12 10 2

BEAVER LOCAL (0-5): Eells (LP, 6IP, 11R, 10H, 6K, 2BB) and Piscitelli. Thurik RBI; Keller HR, RBI; Jordan 2S, RBI; Eells S; Young S.

INDIAN CREEK (3-3): Penner (WP, 5IP, 4R, 4H, 4K, 1BB), Taylor (2IP, 0R, 0H, 4K, 0BB) and Starkey. Penner 2S, T, 2RBI; Buchanan D, RBI; Boely S, RBI; Taylor 2RBI; Ely S; Dawson S; Driscoll S, 2RBI; Starkey S; Smarella S.