Rams Knock Chip Off Unity

Tolono came into Shelbyville acting like world beaters, but the Lady Rams (8-2, 1-1 Okaw) used their tried and true formula to knock that chip off Unity’s shoulder and get the, 5-2, conference win on Wednesday.

A characteristic of the Rams season has been game-winning rallies in at least one inning to push them over the top. However, Tolono hit the ball early and put the sophomore psyche of Shelby in the balance.

The Unity pitcher also displayed an over-confidence as she threw a smorgasboard of pitches at the Rams, though also running up her pitch count. Unity’s infield talk and mini-celebrations per Ram out betrayed a mindset that they thought they would get a sure win.

Nevertheless, Ram sophomore ace Turaisa Welton and the defense never wavered, scattering five Unity hits through five innings as they kept Tolono scoreless.

Sam Agney and Whitney Fox had back-to-back hits in their first at bats from the #8 and #9 slots, serving notice that the Ram bats would not go silent.

After the Rams saw this unnerving pitcher twice, they started to tee off. With one out, Agney hit her second single in a row and Fox walked. After a ground out moved the runners to second and third with two outs, Hannah Dudley singled the first run of the game across.

The Rams most dangerous hitter came to the plate and with blood now in the water Shannon Boone attacked. She launched a 2-run triple into right center. Kaylee Agney drew a walk and Welton helped herself with an RBI single, giving her a 4-0 lead.

Tolono reached on a lead-off error in their sixth, followed by a passed ball and a 1-out single. Dudley squeezed a pop up at second and another batter reached on an error, cutting the lead to 4-1. Dudley squeezed her second pop up in three batters to pull the plug on the would-be Unity comeback.

Shelby wasn’t content with their go-ahead rally.

in the fifth, the Rams added to their lead in the sixth. With two outs, Fox came through again, reaching base for the third time in three tries. She drew a walk from the #9 slot and lead-off hitter Taylor Rhodes was ready to strike.

After going 0-for-3 on the day, Rhodes romped, driving a double into left center and scoring Fox for a 5-1. Shelby lead.

In the seventh, Welton gave up a lead-off walk, but then rang up the #8 hitter. Sam Agney threw out the next batter on a ball right in front of the plate and Tolono was down to one out. They got an RBI-single, trimming the lead to 5-2. However, Welton rang up the #2 hitter on just four pitches to notch another win.

While the Tolono pitcher kept the Rams off balance early by spraying her pitches all around the plate, Welton kept the Rockets off target for seven innings with her speed and variety of pitches. Welton won the complete game, allowing two runs (1 earned) on six hits.

and two walks over seven innings, while striking out six. Deters allowed five runs in six innings on seven hits and four walks, while striking out just three. Two of those three were the first two Ram batters of the game.

One key to the Rams win was production from the bottom of the order. The Rams #8 and #9 hitters, Sam Agney and W hitney Fox, were a combined 3-for-4 with two walks and three of the five Ram runs. Tolono’s #8 and #9 hitters were a combined 0-for-6. Fox, filling in for injured Hollie Schultz in right field, also had a double-play early in the game when Unity had two runners on base.

With one out and two on in the first inning, Fox raced to her left and caught a lined fly ball. She then looked to first to see if she could double up the runner, but the runner was getting back. Fox then looked to second and that runner was further away. Fox threw to Rhodes at second and got Welton out of the jam.

Shelbyville (8-2, 1-1 Okaw) was to host Vandalia in the varsity/JV double-header on Thursday, before traveling to Monticello on Friday.

Shelbyville 5, Tolono 2

Tolono 000 001 1—2-6-0

Shelby 000 041 x—5--7-1

Ram stats: 1-for-4, 2B, RBI; Dudley 1-for-4, run, RBI; Boone 1-for-3, 3B, run, 2 RBIs; K. Agney 0-for-1, 2 BBs; Welton 1-for-3, RBI; Katy Langan 0-for-2, HBP; Alexis Flore 0-for-3, FC; S. Agney 2-for-3, run; Fox 1-for-1, 2 BBs, 2 runs. Pitching (W) Welton (6-2) 7 P, 2 runs (1 ER), 6 hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks.

Unity stats: Woodworth 2-for-4, run; Godsell 0-for-4; Deters 3-for-3; Hilliard 0-for-3; Finn 1-for-2, BB; Fender 0-for-3; Swigert 0-for-2, BB, run; Chinton 0-for-3; Hillard 0-for-3. Pitching (L) Deters 6 IP, 5 runs, 7 hits, 4 BBs.

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