Hearn comes through again for Lady Vikes|Prep softball
Published 12:00 am Friday, February 20, 2009
Andi Hearn’s younger sister Chasity is known in Warren Central’s dugout as “Sissy.”
Maybe “Clutch” would be a better moniker.
She came up big in another runners-on situation with a pivotal two-RBI double to pace Warren Central to a 5-2 win over visiting Greenville-St. Joe on Thursday. Hearn has four RBIs in the past two games.
“She’s doing a great job,” Warren Central coach Dana McGivney said. “She’s really seeing the ball well and she’s going up there with a lot of confidence.”
At the time, the Lady Vikes (2-2) were clinging to a tenuous 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth and the elder Hearn led off the frame with a single down the first-base line. Mandy Fuller reached on a fielder’s choice and Mallory Reynolds singled to put two on with one out.
Chasity Hearn ripped a double through the gap, a solid line drive that allowed Fuller and Reynolds to score easily. Chasity later scored on an error to put the Lady Vikes up 4-0.
“I just feel a lot more confidence out there,” Hearn said about coming up with runners in scoring position. “I just get excited and it gets the adrenaline flowing.”
Warren Central added one more run in the bottom of the fifth as Chelsea Worley, who had relieved Andi Hearn in the circle, got a chance with Katie Busby waiting on third. She bounced a dribbler between first and second to drive in the final Warren Central run.
The Lady Irish scored in the top of the sixth, as Miller Maddox took advantage of an earlier WC error to plate one run with a two-out double. But Worley induced an easy tapper back to the circle to finish off the side.
The way Andi Hearn and Worley were throwing with a four-run lead behind them, the Lady Irish had little chance of making serious headway.
Hearn earned the win, allowing only one hit in four solid innings with seven strikeouts, while her replacement Worley tallied five strikeouts in three innings of work to earn the save.
“Chelsea has done a great job for us in relief since she was in eighth grade,” McGivney said. “She’s got a great changeup and it gives us a good change of pace from Andi, whose style is completely different.”
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Contact Steve Wilson at swilson@vicksburgpost.com.