Ursuline’s Ingalls and Lower too much for J-M

Sarah Ingalls, moved to the leadoff position, ignited two rallies and Casey Lower pitched a 2-hitter.

By CHUCK HOUSTEAU

Vindicator Correspondent

NORTH JACKSON — The strength of the Ursuline High softball team this season has been the battery tandem of junior pitcher Casey Lower and senior catcher Sarah Ingalls.

The duo combined to lead the Irish (13-4) to a rain-shortened 6-0 win over Jackson-Milton in five innings Friday afternoon.

Lower (12-4) tossed a two-hitter and struck out eight Bluejay hitters, while Ingalls ignited two two-run rallies with a leadoff double in the first inning and an infield grounder that turned into an error and brought two runners home in the fourth inning.

Ursuline scored all six runs without the benefit of an RBI.

“Jackson-Milton is a quality team but we were able to take advantage of some miscues by them,” said Ursuline coach Michael Kernan. “I’d like to see us produce runs a little more efficiently but if they happen in that manner we’ll take them.

“With our lineup, one through nine, if we get runners on base we will put pressure on the opponent and force some miscues. Hopefully like today we take advantage of that.”

Jackson-Milton (10-4) committed four errors and had two wild pitches that allowed Ursuline’s final two runs to score.

“Defensively tonight we were not at our best,” said Jackson-Milton coach Kelly Snowden. “We definitely were a little tight and I think we are a lot better team that we showed tonight.”

Ursuline got the game off to a good start thanks to a strategy change initiated by Kernan.

The veteran coach, whose teams have reached regional tournament play the last three seasons, was tired of watching his best hitter, Ingalls get pitched around in many games.

Ingalls, who has been heavily recruited by Youngstown State and is considering signing with the Penguins, is batting nearly .500 this season but has been walked nearly 20 times.

Kernan inserted Ingalls in the leadoff spot, hoping the Jays couldn’t pitch around his leading hitter.

Ingalls responded by leading off the game with a double. After freshman Brianna Curd pinch ran for her, Kasey Foley was hit by a pitch. Both runners took off on a double steal and scored when an errant Bluejay throw allowed both runners to score.

Ingalls then helped the Irish tally twice more in the fourth after Kelli Kolenich and Makikka Caige reached base on singles and moved up to second and third on a sacrifice bunt by Lower.

While being intentionally walked for the second time in the game, Ingalls stuck her bat out and hit a ball in the infield that was misplayed and resulted in Kolenich and Caige scoring.

“I stuck my hands out there because I thought I could reach it and it worked,” Ingalls said. “I thought Coach [Kernan] was joking when he said I was going to bat leadoff but I wanted to help out the team by getting something started quick with rain on the way.”

Lower, who has started for the Irish since her freshman season, was also instrumental in the win.

“I know I don’t have to strike out every batter with my defense behind me,” Lower said. “I don’t think about my strikeouts. If I throw strikes and strike people out, fine, but if I don’t I know my team is always behind me.”

Lower’s teammate, Krista Byers, made a great defensive play in right field might that have made the difference in the game in the very first inning after Jackson-Milton got two singles.

Byers chased down a line drive off the bat of Caitlyn Keck and made a diving catch that prevented two runs from scoring.

“That could have made it a different game,” said Snowden. “Ursuline’s a great team. Hopefully we’ll meet them again sometime and play better.”

Jackson-Milton pitcher Lindsey Knipp (9-4) also pitched well for the Bluejays in a losing effort.