Greenfield-Central’s Kristen Wineinger takes a big swing against Shelbyville Monday.
Tom Russo | Daily Reporter
GREENFIELD — Greenfield-Central entered Monday night’s game against Shelbyville with the second most home runs — 33 — in the Hoosier Heritage Conference.
But it was the Golden Bears ability to hit the long ball that led to an 11-1 Cougars loss at home on Senior Night, and allowed Shelbyville to clinch at least a share of the HHC title.
“It wasn’t a complicated night. We just had poor pitching and terrible at-bats at the plate. It is what it is, just a bad night,” Greenfield-Central head coach Jason Stewart said. “We weren’t ready to play mentally, and they were playing for a conference title, so congrats to them. They showed up, and our girls didn’t.”
Shelbyville’s No. 3 hitter, Addie Stieneker, was responsible for all three of the Golden Bears home runs.
In the first she hit a two-run home run, in the third hit a solo shot, and in the fourth broke the game wide open with a grand slam over the right-center fence to move her RBI total on the day to seven.
“There’s only so much you can do with the bases loaded, you’ve got to throw strikes,” Stewart said. “Now you’ve also got to hit your spots and not give her something she can hit 250 feet, which we didn’t do.”
The fourth-inning grand slam was part of a six-run inning in which the Golden Bears increased their lead to 11-1.
Madysen Herbert got the start for the Cougars and was tagged for all 11 runs over three-plus innings of work. She allowed seven hits, walked three and struck out one.
“She just didn’t hit her spots, and you’ve got to hit your spots against good teams,” Stewart said. “You do that against good teams, and you’re going to get shelled.”
Greenfield-Central’s lone run came on senior Olivia Roberts solo home run in the third inning. The blast was her 11th of the season to increase her team lead in the category.
Faith Butler reached base twice for the Cougars, and relieved Herbert in the circle.
She finished out the fourth and fifth, allowing zero runs on two hits and two strikeouts.
“I can’t think of one good thing we did tonight other than that Faith came in and threw well,” Stewart said.
After scoring 50 runs over the previous four games, the Cougars’ offense was limited to just three hits and six base runners.
Shelbyville starting pitcher Cheyenne Eads struck out 11 over the five-inning complete game.
The loss moved the Cougars to 3-3 in the HHC. They close out conference play today at Mt. Vernon at 7 p.m.
“We’ve got three more tough games before the sectional, so we’ve got some work to do, that’s for sure,” Stewart said.
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Shelbyville 11, Greenfield-Central 1
Shelbyville (16-7, 6-1);311;60;—;11;9;0
Greenfield-Central (17-7, 3-3);001;00;—;1;3;0
Cheyenne Eads and Kali Laycock. Madysen Herbert, Faith Butler (4) and Charlotte Riehle. 2B: S – Kylee Edwards, Abby Brenner, Eads HR: S – Addie Stieneker 3 (6); G-C: Olivia Roberts (11). WP: Cheyenne Eads (8-5). LP: Madysen Herbert (8-3).
