In a game where runs were at a premium and seniors were recognized Monday night, Enterprise shut out North Pike 3-0.

With energy flowing through the dugout, the Enterprise girls carried it onto the field. The Lady Jaguars were unable to solve the Lady Yellow Jackets’ pitching and defense throughout the game.

The Enterprise girls gained traction early in the game on a home run and kept it going throughout.

“We had some pretty good plays on defense that got our momentum going,” Lady Yellow Jackets senior Carly Polk said. “We carried that momentum over to our offense.”

After sitting the North Pike girls down in order, the Lady Yellow Jackets got things rolling in their half of the first.

With two outs, Lady Yellow Jackets eighth-grader Abby Richardson put her team on the scoreboard first as she belted a home run over the centerfield wall.

The Lady Jaguars attempted to tie up the game in the top half of the second, as Linley Smith notched a leadoff single. The Enterprise girls stranded Smith, getting the next three batters out.

“We took what we did on defense and took our momentum to the plate,” Enterprise senior Caley Cangemi said. “We did really well at the plate and made the hits that put us in the spot to get the win.”

The score remained in the Lady Yellow Jackets’ favor heading into the bottom half of the third, where they would tack on two more runs.

Polk led off with a single. Senior Carlee Nations followed with a bunt single. Senior Jana Nations, batting with one out, brought in a run off of her RBI sacrifice. With two outs, freshman Lauren Gartman brought in the final run of the game on a RBI single. 

The Lady Jaguars tried to rally in their half of the fourth. Jenna Brock led off with a single. Kaylea Wagner made her way to first base after drawing a walk but was later gunned down by Gartman as she tried to steal second base. With one out, Smith notched a single. The Lady Yellow Jackets were able to strand runners on second and third base, getting the next two batters out.

The Enterprise girls threatened to add onto their lead in the final frame of the fourth. Sophomore Belle Porter worked the count full and drew a walk.

Junior Morgan Smith followed with a double into right field. The Lady Jaguars gave themselves a chance to stay in the game, getting the final two outs.

The North Pike girls tried again to get on the score board in their half of the fifth. Meredith Bates led off with a double into right-center field. Jolie Spears followed with a single that made its way past third base. The Enterprise girls shut down the scoring attempt, getting the next three batters out.

The Lady Jaguars tried one more time to make it onto the score board, as Wagner led off with a double into center field. That was the last runner the North Pike girls would get, as the Lady Yellow Jackets finished off the inning getting the next three batters to pop up the ball.

The Lady Yellow Jackets went on to shut out the Lady Jaguars 3-0.

“I was really proud of our girls tonight,” Lady Yellow Jackets coach Tyler King said. “They came together as a team and did a really good job. This was a team win. From the dugout to the field to the plate. We really handled everything. We had a lot of momentum after Abby’s home run, and we played really well offensively. Carlee did a really good job tonight pitching. We made some really good plays and had some younger classmen step up, and they did their job.”

Carlee Nations picked up the win for the Lady Yellow Jackets going all seven innings, while allowing four hits and no runs while picking up three strike outs.

Bates took the loss for the Lady Jaguars going six innings, while allowing six hits and three runs while picking up two strike outs.

Richardson led the Enterprise girls with a home run and a RBI. Smith had a double. Carlee Nations had a single. Sophomore Kaylie Burges notched a single. Gartman hit a single and an RBI. Polk hit a single. Porter also had a single. Jana Nations finished the scoring for the Lady Yellow Jackets with a RBI.

Story by Dave Linton