Corydon edges Lanesville, 3-0

A week before sectional play begins, Corydon Central knocked off county-rival Lanesville, 3-0, in softball Monday.
Lady Panthers twirler Ashley Crawhorn went the distance in the circle, scoring her 13th win of the season.
Crawhorn also ignited the scoring in the third inning for the host Lady Panthers. She drew a leadoff walk, setting the table for two runs. Consecutive sacrifice bunts, including one that allowed a runner to reach on an error, put runners on the corners with one out.
Kaitlan Money delivered the big hit, a double over the leaping Erica Daly in the left centerfield gap. The shot put the Lady Panthers up 2-0 after the third inning.
Lanesville looked to respond in the top of the fourth when Abby Schmelz hit a double. She was eventually part of a first-to-third double play that Ashley Schoen hit into.
Corydon Central put an additional run on the board in the fourth inning. Anglea Shutters opened with a single. A Payton Windell bunt moved the runner over. Then, with two outs, Crawhorn delivered a run-scoring single.
Lanesville put one runner on during the final three innings, unable to make a run despite hitting the ball hard.
‘We’ve hit the ball hard at times, but they seem to be right at people,’ Lanesville coach Rusty Cecil said.
He also credited his pitcher, Ashley Schoen, for another strong outing.
‘Ashley has been our pitcher against the best teams,’ Cecil said. ‘She is 6-7 and was dealing with a pulled muscle for a few weeks. Our freshmen pitchers, Emma Zeller and Robyn Schoen, have done a good job filling in.’
Corydon Central coach Kim Briscoe was encouraged by her team’s approach against Lanesville.
‘I just liked how our kids played today,’ she said. ‘They played solid softball. It wasn’t flashy, but we’ll play five games before our sectional game with one practice.’
Balancing the use of speed and power was key to the win as well.
‘We’ve been bunting much better,’ Briscoe said. ‘Bunting has to be a key part of our game. We have the speed and the power to produce a balance of a long and short game.’
With the team’s original starting outfielder Chrissy McAfee out for the season with an injury, the Lady Panthers have shifted players around to find the right mix in the outfield.
‘Our outfield play was tremendous,’ Briscoe said. ‘Those girls have the speed to run down balls, and they were in the right position. There are two freshmen (Allison Chambers and Windell) and a sophomore (Money) that have the speed and talent.’
Silver Creek’s recent loss to Brownstown Central has opened the door for the Lady Panthers to possibly share the Mid-Southern Conference title. The Lady Dragons and Lady Panthers have one loss each. Corydon Central closes the regular season Friday hosting Scottsburg.