HS Softball: Independence heating up for postseason run
Tuesday night at Larry T. Poe Field, there were no surprises.
A young and inexperienced Woodrow Wilson team came to Coal City to battle a highly talented and veteran Independence (16-6) squad, ranked No. 5 in the state for Class AAA.
The night played out as it appeared on paper.
Taking a quick 6-0 lead after two innings, the Patriots sealed the 8-0 win with two runs in the fifth inning.
Veteran Independence head coach Ken Adkins knew he had the Flying Eagles in a bit of a bind coming into the game.
"We got off to a good start," Adkins said. "We look at the sports stuff and I knew (University of Charleston commit, Aubree) Smallwood had thrown (Monday) and had a good game against Greenbrier West. I knew they had Oak Hill tomorrow, so we probably wouldn't see her."
"I told the kids to try and start fast. Get on them," Adkins went on to say. "I call them 'wounded" when you are getting beat around a little bit like they have this season. They are looking for any glimmer of hope. I said, even after we went up 6-0, don't let them hang around here. Finish this thing now. We did a good job today."
The top five in the line-up were lethal for the Patriots.
Kassidy Bradbury walked twice and scored twice. Ava Parks ripped two double and drove in three runs in the No. 2 spot.
Emma Lilly had an RBI and scored twice behind Parks, while Bella Lilly added two hits, driving in three run as the clean-up hitter.
Paytin Brehm followed the Lilly and Lilly duo with two hits, including a triple that scored the run to end the contest early.
"You have Kassidy and Ava," Adkins said. "I don't even know if you can describe what Ava is doing against the level of competition we have played. She is legit and setting it on fire"
"That group is at the top of the state in RBI's and runs scored. Those first three have been crazy," Adkins added. "What has really helped us is, if you drop down in that line-up, even down around eight, we are still hitting over .300. That is what is going to make the difference if we can keep it going."
Independence started the season on fire winning 12 of the first 13 games before running into a couple of strong teams in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Since the return to the Mountain State, the Patriots are 5-3, but two losses are to AAA No. 1 Herbert Hoover. The third setback came at AA No. 1 Logan.
"Played Logan tough down there, lost 6-5, but had a chance to win," Adkins said. "We just didn't play well against Hoover, but they are going to beat you if you give them opportunities. We can't give them opportunities and we have to take advantage of what they give us."
With the postseason quickly approaching, many eyes are set on a regional showdown between the Huskies and the Patriots.
Adkins says, not so fast.
The sectional for Independence includes county rival Shady Spring, PikeView, Princeton and perennial powerhouse Greenbrier East.
"We still have to keep after it. Greenbrier East is getting better," Adkins said. "I see them playing better all the time."
The Patriots have a crucial stretch ahead including a rematch with Logan, regional foe Sissonville, Liberty and Greenbrier East. The run kicks off with a clash with Shady Spring Thursday in Coal City.
"It is just important that we get on a roll. Get things fixed. I am still tinkering with the line-up a bit," Adkins said. "We are just trying to find the right combination of things where we can get through a ballgame. We have a pretty good bench and have some kids that run. We have stole a bunch of bases. That helps."
