Lady Longhorns trounce Knights

(Photos courtesy Collin Sheffield)  Marengo Academy honored seniors Caitlin Andrews, Chandler Stenz, Brooke Smyly and Conner Etheridge prior to Monday's win over Tuscaloosa Academy. They are pictured here with MA coach Danny Stenz.
(Photos courtesy Collin Sheffield)
Marengo Academy honored seniors Caitlin Andrews, Chandler Stenz, Brooke Smyly and Conner Etheridge prior to Monday’s win over Tuscaloosa Academy. They are pictured here with MA coach Danny Stenz.

LINDEN — Marengo Academy (17-5) capped off its regular season Monday with a 10-0 win over Tuscaloosa Academy.

Conner Etheridge strokes a two-run homer in the third inning Monday.
Conner Etheridge strokes a two-run homer in the third inning Monday.

Andrea Edmonds worked all six innings in the complete game effort, striking out eight batters and surrendering only two hits.

“Andrea was really on. The thing about Andrea is, the hotter the weather, the better she likes it,” Marengo coach Danny Stenz said of his stalwart hurler. “She’s got great stamina. She’s got all of her pitches.

Edmonds was working on a perfect game when Shelby Curry hit a double to center field with two outs in the fourth inning to spoil the bid. Anna Grace Marshall singled with two away in the fifth to become Tuscaloosa’s second and final base runner of the contest.

“We’ll be riding her a lot from here on out,” Stenz said of Edmonds’ importance as the Lady Longhorns prepare for their playoff run. “It’s big knowing that all we’ve really got to do offensively is produce maybe two or three runs somehow and we’ve got her there. Our defense is good in most spots that she may get hit at them. Andrea is a beast on the mound. She has carried us through her ninth and 10th grade years all the way through the state every inning. We’re probably going to ride her again this year if we can.”

The Lady Longhorns opened the scoring in the home half of the first when Chandler Stenz made her way home on a Conner Etheridge RBI single. Mary Jordan Drake came in as a courtesy runner for Anna Michael Crocker and scored on an Edmonds RBI grounder to put MA up 2-0.

Anna Michael Crocker drops down a bunt for the Lady Longhorns.
Anna Michael Crocker drops down a bunt for the Lady Longhorns.

Marengo scored three runs in the third inning as Etheridge cranked a ball over the left field fence for a two-run homer that also scored Stenz. Brooke Smyly later scored on an error to put Marengo up 5-0.

The Lady Longhorns added for four more runs in the fourth to put the game well out of reach for Tuscaloosa. Stenz singled and scored on an Edmonds RBI single. Drake came in to run after a Crocker double and later scored on a Smyly RBI single. Hannah Freeman and Smyly then scored on a two-run double by Macey Petrey to give MA a 9-0 lead.

Laremey Griffith scored the final run of the game as she reached on a fielder’s choice and made it home on a Ryan Hale RBI single.

“I was real pleased, for the most part, with our hitting,” Stenz said. “The pitcher wasn’t bad. She might have been throwing a little bit of a flat pitch, but her speed and stuff was pretty similar to what we’re going to see from Edgewood. We hit some shots out there. I liked the way we swung it today.”

Stenz finished 3-for-3 with a walk and three runs scored. Crocker was 1-for-4. Etheridge went 2-for-4 with a homer, three RBIs and a run scored.

Chandler Stenz awaits a ball at second base Monday.
Chandler Stenz awaits a ball at second base Monday.

Edmonds went 1-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs. Smyly finished 2-for-4 with a double, one RBI and two runs scored.

Petrey was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Caitlin Andrews was 1-for-3 with a walk. Kimberly Moore was 1-for-2. Hale was 1-for-2 with one RBI. Amber Wilkerson drew a walk in her only at-bat. Griffith scored a run. Drake scored two runs and Freeman scored one.

Marengo honored the senior quartet of Stenz, Smyly, Etheridge and Andrews before the game.

“It was an honor for me to be able to coach them,” Stenz said of his senior class. “I wouldn’t swap any of them even through the ups and downs. I wouldn’t trade them for anybody on anybody else’s team.”

The Lady Longhorns are set to play in the region tournament at Meadowview Christian Thursday and Friday. Marengo has already qualified for the state draw and seeding will be determined by its performance in the region bracket.