NORTH EAST — Tuesday’s county meeting between Rising Sun and Elkton played out with two quality outings in the circle, run-saving defense and timely hitting; aspects of the game only fitting for a matchup between teams with the two best records in the county.
Taylor Stapleford led the way in the Tigers’ 2-1 victory with 17 strikeouts and a complete-game outing. Stapleford retired the first eight batters she faced by strikeout, before a base hit by Madison Wright gave Elkton its first base runner of the day. Stapleford retired 13 of the next 15 batters she faced.
Rising Sun’s starter said she went into the game with an idea of the implications it had on the upcoming regional playoffs. Rising Sun entered Tuesday atop the Class 2A East region with a 15-0 record. The Golden Elks sat behind Rising Sun with a 13-1 record that included a 13-game winning streak.
“I knew it was going to be a tough game,” Stapleford said. “So I was really just focused on hitting my spots, making my pitches and just working through the heat and everything.”
Rising Sun catcher Aubrey McCoy felt Stapleford’s off-speed pitches were most effective at keeping Elkton’s hitters off balance. Stapleford gave up three hits and allowed no walks.
“Definitely her curveballs,” McCoy said of what worked best in Stapleford’s outing. “She always hits them pretty good.”
Elkton pitcher LeeAnn Pugh was equally as effective in the circle. While only retiring three batters by strikeout, Pugh relied on the play of her defense to retire Rising Sun hitters and get out of situations with runners in scoring position. The Tigers put runners on second and third with one out in the second. The Golden Elks’ starter used a strikeout and a groundout to escape the inning unscathed.
Pugh worked out of another jam an inning later. Following a walk to start the inning, Sun’s Jordan Lynch stole second base to put a runner in scoring position with no outs. Pugh retired the hitter she was facing by strikeout, before getting help in the field on a diving catch by catcher Tina Morgan and another groundout to end the inning. Pugh worked out of the home half of the fifth by forcing an inning-ending flyout with a runner on second base.
Rising Sun’s rally to take the lead came in the bottom of the sixth. Bri Cole started the inning with a double to the fence that put a runner on second with one out. McCoy followed Cole with an RBI single down the right field line, scoring pinch runner Lexi Haywood to put Sun ahead by one. Rising Sun opened the scoring in the home half of the first off an RBI single by Sam Dixon to give the Tigers an early 1-0 lead.
Elkton’s Jordan McCullough tied the game at one in the top half of the fourth. McCullough attempted to steal third and as she slid into the bag, the throw hit off her leg, sending the ball into left field and McCullough to the plate.
“It’s definitely big to get the clutch hits — I know we didn’t hit a lot — but I feel like it builds the energy,” Dixon said of Sun’s timely hitting. “And it just keeps us motivated, showing who wants it more and it just keeps the team up.”
Rising Sun will host Fallston on Thursday, while Elkton visits North Harford today.
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