Photo by Andrew Grimm DELIVERY — Buckeye Local’s Karlie Lander connects with a pitch against Indian Creek on Thursday. She had a strong game in the circle and scored what ended up being the winning run in a 4-3 Panthers win.

Hosting Indian Creek on Thursday evening, they might have taken the first step to doing just that. 

While his Panthers did not have a lot of hits, they put the ball in play in a couple of key situations and senior ace Karlie Lander was able to make the offensive support stand up for a 4-3 victory over the Redskins. 

“Hitting has been a problem for us up to this point so it was good to see a couple of good hits,” Soos said. “We graduated a lot of bats last year. Our defense has been pretty darn good and our pitching has been decent. If the bats can start coming alive, we’ll compete. The girls all have a good attitude; I’m really pleased with them. We did a lot of good things today, it was a step in the right direction.

“I think seeing a couple drop in will go a long way for their confidence. I know they can hit; they know they can hit, it’s just being able to put it together now. Confidence means a heck of a lot in anything you do and hopefully this helps us find some.”

Photo by Andrew Grimm RUNNING HARD — Indian Creek’s Tori Gross runs to third after a teammate put a ball in play Thursday at Buckeye Local. She had two hits in the game.

The Panthers (2-2) had just five hits in the game, getting out-hit more than two-to-one, but Danika Bauknecht had a key RBI double and the Panthers also put the ball in play and scored on a couple of errors by Creek. 

“I’m proud of the girls,” Soos said. “We’re competing, we have a little bit of time between games now and we’re 2-2 through the first week. We’re about where we thought we would be. I think we’re going to be OK.”

Lander, in her third season as the starting pitcher for the Panthers, fired seven strikeouts without issuing a walk in going the distance. Four of her punch outs were inning enders — including the final out with the tying run aboard — and she worked around base runners efficiently, stranding eight Creek base runners in the game. 

“That was a big strikeout,” Soos said. “I think Karlie is one of the better pitchers in the Valley and she’s really smart out there. She’s doing a good job.”

Creek (2-4), after falling down 4-1 in the fifth, did not go away, battling to the last out. They plated a pair of runs with two outs in the top of the seventh. A big RBI double by senior Riley Sadler making things interesting, but came one swing short of completing the comeback. 

Photo by Andrew Grimm MAKING A PLAY — Buckeye Local’s Frankie Sawko tracks down the ball in centerfield on Thursday against Indian Creek.

“Our girls always fight, we’re young but resilient,” first-year Indian Creek coach Amber Scott said. “We have had a lot of injuries; it’s been an up and down start. We’re without our starting pitcher and shortstop, so we’re missing some key girls and the younger girls are stepping in and doing what they’re supposed to do, they’re battling and competing.”

Creek’s young pitching duo of Maggie Blackburn and Tori Gross gave their team a chance to come back. Blackburn tossed five innings with five strikeouts and two walks and just two of the runs charged to her were earned. Gross fired a scoreless sixth. 

“Our starting pitcher is hurt so we’re mixing it up with two sophomores and they’re doing a good job,” Scott said. 

The Panthers jumped ahed first when Addie Jones, who finished 2 for 3 on the day, singled, got to second on a passed ball and scored on a Creek error in the bottom of the first. 

Creek knotted the score in the top of the second; Blackburn hitting an RBI single after Gross had doubled. 

Photo by Andrew Grimm IN THE CIRCLE — Buckeye Local starting pitcher Karlie Lander goes through her throwing motion to deliver a strike against Indian Creek. She struck out seven and did not issue a walk in the game.

Buckeye Local re-took the lead in the third when Bauknecht connected for her RBI double. They added to the lead in the fifth with a pair of runs, both scoring on booted ball and those runs proved to be vital. 

UP NEXT

Indian Creek: Continues a busy opening week with a trip to rival Edison on Saturday. 

Buckeye Local: Has a long layoff between games before they host rival Harrison Central on April 8. 

Buckeye Local 4, Indian Creek 3

Photo by Andrew Grimm DELIVERY — Indian Creek starter Maggie Blackburn fires a pitch against Buckeye Local on Thursday.

IC 0-1-0 0-0-0 2 — 3 11 2 

BL 1-0-1 0-2-0 x — 4 5 3 

INDIAN CREEK (2-4): Blackburn (LP, 5IP, 4R, 2ER, 4H, 5K, 2BB), Gross (1IP, 0R, 1H, 1K, 0BB) and Sadler. Duke S; Rath 3S; Sadler S, D, RBI; Dray S; Ade S; Gross D, S; Blackburn S, RBI. 

BUCKEYE LOCAL (2-2): Lander (WP, CG, 3R, 2ER, 11H, 7K, 0BB) and Russell. Jones 2S; Bauknecht D, RBI; George S; Hosenfeld S. 

Photo by Andrew Grimm TRACKING IT DOWN — Buckeye Local’s Addie Jones tracks down a fly ball for an out against Indian Creek. She had two hits and scored two runs in the game.