Staff Writer



Solid pitching and defense continues to be a pillar of strength of the Lady Knights softball team, but the offense has still struggled in the past week. Still, that didn’t stop Tyler Consolidated and Coach Charlene Galluzzo from reaching the win column.

Last Tuesday, the Lady Knights hosted the Bellaire Big Reds in hopes to even out their record against a team they defeated earlier in the season. This time it was Bellaire that came out victorious as they got out to an early 6-0 lead at the end of two innings of play.

The hitting woes continued for Tyler Consolidated, again scoring only one run on two hits credited to Tonya Riffle and Hannah Thomas. Kim Headley was credited with an RBI, driving in her teams’ only run in the bottom of the fourth.

Kaitlyn Goudy took the loss with five innings pitched and seven strikeouts. Linda Bassett came on in the sixth inning to finish out the game with two Ks. Combined, both pitchers allowed only five hits in the game, but three errors aided in the Big Reds scoring runs and giving them their first win of the season.

On Wednesday, the Knights had another opportunity to even out the win-loss record with a doubleheader against LKC North Division foe St. Marys.

In game one’s continuation of a suspended game from a week prior, Goudy pitched an excellent game in a defensively strong match between both teams. She pitched a complete game and punched out nine Lady Devils and giving up only two hits.

On the other end, St. Marys’ pitcher Channez Walker almost mimicked Goudy’s game with a complete game and three hits. Fortunately for Tyler Consolidated, their three hits were able to plate two in the game with a run in both the third and fourth innings.

Sarah McMullen led the way for the Lady Knights with a hit and an RBI. Goudy and Thomas combined for the other hits in the game.

The nightcap also ended up being a defensively strong game for both teams. Five players pitched between the teams and gave up a combined six hits. It would be the Silver Knights that struck first however with runs in the second and third innings.

McMullen would score in the second on a fielder’s choice and Riffle reached home after a passed ball.

St. Marys threatened in the top of the sixth with a run to cut the lead in half, but Tyler Consolidated would score a run to regain the two-run advantage in the bottom half of the inning when Heather Suter scored after being walked and moving over on a fielder’s choice and an error at first base.

In the seventh inning, Coach Charlene Galluzzo pulled a move reminiscent of Game Seven in the 2001 World Series in which she put in her ace pitcher to earn the save.

Goudy came on in relief in the seventh for Bassett who recorded the win. St. Marys would score a run before the defense took care of the rest. Lauren Kennedy started the game and pitched three innings, striking out one.

The win gave Tyler Consolidated and Coach Galluzzo their 100th career victory.

“It was a matter of perseverance,” said Galluzzo about the achievement. “We’ve had some really down years and it’s not anyone’s fault. There are years you have pitchers and years you don’t. When you don’t have pitchers, you can’t win games.

“Our kids always fight hard and it was more gratifying that this particular group was the group that got the 100th win for us. It’s for the program. It’s not for me. It’s all about the kids.”

Thursday gave the Silver Knights a chance to avenge a loss earlier in the season to the Ritchie County rebels, Class AA runners-up a year ago.

It would be another closely contested game, but the Lady Rebels would put the Lady Knights under the .500 mark once again with a 5-2 decision.

The visitors would take a 3-0 lead in the third and a 5-0 lead after scoring runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Tyler Consolidated attempted to answer back in the sixth with two runs by Linda Buck pinch running and Christy Jones after reaching on a hit, but it wouldn’t be enough.

The Knights were limited to two hits and aided Ritchie County with six errors. Goudy pitched another complete game with nine strikeouts.

After a rough outing in Cameron Friday evening in which Coach Galluzzo described as a trip to the Twilight Zone, the Silver Knights returned home to the friendly confines to face LKC foe Ravenswood.

It was a tale of two games as Tyler Consolidated started off slow losing and losing the first game, but played strong defensively to win the second.

Game one saw the Lady Devils jump out to a 6-0 lead after one inning and adding one in the fourth and sixth to win the game 8-0 while limiting the lady Knights to just two hits, one by Jones and Thomas.

Bassett started the first game of the doubleheader and Goudy came on in relief after two innings. Bassett had three putouts to Goudy’s two.

The nightcap went a little better for the Knights as they limited the Ravenswood offense and shut them out for the majority of the game.

Goudy took the nod for this game and went the distance yet again and allowed only three hits. She received the runs she would need for the win in the fourth inning as Thomas and Suter scored a pair of runs. Thomas went 2-2 while Cailin Prunty and Lauren Kennedy each had a hit. Prunty also batted it one of the two runs.

When asked what the difference was about this game than the first, Coach Galluzzo said it was all about heart.

“We started playing with some enthusiasm. We looked pretty dead (in the first game) and that’s what happened Friday. We had no energy then but I told them there was no reason why they should be like that now.

“I ripped them pretty hard. I told them they better play with some heart and start playing ball the way they’re capable of doing. They’re capable of doing great things if they work together and keep each other up.

Tyler Consolidated (9-11) will now look to get back to .500 on Wednesday as they host a doubleheader with fellow LKC North Division opponent Williamstown with the first pitch slated for 5 p.m.