By Nathan Vaji
For The Daily Item
MILTON — Danville Little League softball 10-11 Division manager Tony Fritz was well aware that his team was up against a tough opponent in West Point. After Saturday afternoon, he now knows how tough of a team they faced.
West Point defeated Danville 13-2 in four innings to advance in the West state qualifier on Saturday afternoon at Brown Avenue Park in Milton.
West Point capitalized on four Danville errors and five walks to score 13 runs on just six hits. West Point also had three batters hit by pitches.
"Once you get to this level, the competition gets very tough. Teams get very tough as you move along," said Danville coach Tony Fritz.
Danville scored first in the top of the first inning to jump out early. Martina Plafcan led off with a single and was later knocked in on a groundout by Ashley Brent.
West Point countered with three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Taylor Blevins led off by drawing a walk off Danville starter Lesley Fritz. Blevins stole second, then advanced to third on Anessa Gaughan's groundout. Blevins then scored when Fritz' pitch snuck passed Brent.
Breck Ewer was hit by a pitch and Bria Dinsmore walked before Micaela Zopetti lined a single to center field to score both runners, putting West Point on top 3-1.
That was all the run support needed for West Point starting pitcher Morgan Bellush. Bellush allowed just three hits in her three innings of work. She allowed both runs, with only one earned. She struck out four and walked two.
West Point added five more runs in the second inning on just two hits. During the inning, West Point batters drew three walks and capitalized on two Danville errors. Gaughan highlighted the inning with her line drive single to right center field, scoring two runners.
Plafcan replaced Fritz during the inning, and quieted the West Point bats momentarily. Despite being charged with four runs, she pitched effectively through the third inning.
"Martina is a rock-solid player," said Fritz. "She really thrives on that pressure to come in and settle things down."
Plafcan scored the second Danville run after singling in the third inning and advancing on an error. Plafcan advanced to third on a passed ball, then scored on a throwing error.
Plafcan held West point to one run in the third inning. Nicole Dunlop was hit by a pitch and was later knocked in on a single by Gaughan.
West Point put the game away in the fourth on a walk-off, inside-the-park grand slam by Sophia Lampkin. Ewer and Dinsmore both reached on errors before Zopetti hit a single up the middle to set the stage for Lampkin.
Lampkin took the full-count offering down the line in right field, just past Krista Strausser. She scored standing up to complete the grand slam and end the game early.
"We know she can hit the ball," said West Point coach John Ewer. "As soon as I saw the ball go to the corner, I just started waving my arm because I knew they were all going to score."
Danville will now face Section 1 Champion Union City, which lost to West Point 10-0 Friday night, in a consolation game toay at Brown Avenue Park.
"This team has a lot of heart," said Fritz. "They will come back tomorrow and battle and have fun.
