HS Softball: Independence outslugs Greenbrier East

Peyton Raban and Jenna Joyce both homer and combine for 10 RBI's to lead the Patriots

The town of Coal City is prone to power outages.

Saturday on Larry T. Poe field at Independence High School, in Coal City, that was not the case.

In a match-up that featured 28 runs and 28 hits, it was the Patriots that held the biggest hammers in an 18-10 win over Greenbrier East.

Independence head coach Ken Adkins discussed the wild shootout.

The visitors took the early lead when Campbell Bundy blasted a solo-homer in the second inning.

The advantage was short-lived, however, as the home squad exploded for eight run in the bottom of the frame.

Peyton Raban highlighted the at-bat with a solo blast and single later in the inning, scoring two more runs.

Refusing to go away, Greenbrier East roared back, adding five runs in the third.

Lacy Patriacca started the eruption with a 2-rbi single, which was followed by a 2-run homer from Haylee Heaster.

Then, trailing 10-6 heading to the top of the 5th-inning, the Lady Spartans tied the game with a four-run outburst.

After a run scored on a wild pitch, Reagan Cline singled home the second run of the inning ahead of Patriacca who doubled in two more runs, for a 4-rbi day.

Once again, Independence had the answer, and this time it was the knockout blow.

Two lead-off walks to the bottom of the Patriots order set the table for Emma Simpson who doubled in the eventual game-winning run for an 11-10 advantage.

A error by Greenbrier East allowed Zoey Bragg to score, but the big bang came two batter later when Jenna Joyce hit a missile over the left field fence for a 3-run homer.

Before the visitors could get out of the inning, the Patriots had scored seven runs.

An RBI-single from Paytin Brehm sealed the win in the bottom of the 6th-inning.