By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Every out is important. That’s been Bedford North Lawrence’s defensive motto. Make the routine plays, add an occasional web gem, and don’t give the opponent extra outs with mistakes. That’s usually a formula for success.
The Stars did all of that, backing up starting pitcher Karsyn Coleman with the solid and sensational, during a bounce-back victory over Charlestown on Wednesday evening. The gloves were mightier than the composite swords of power.
Coleman went the distance in the circle, allowing only three hits, and her defenders behind her were both busy and superb during a 4-2 triumph over the Pirates. Kendall Graves drove in two runs and anchored the diamond dandies as BNL (10-6) rebounded from a mercy-rule beatdown at Floyd Central just 24 hours earlier with an old-fashioned defensive battle.
The Stars did their main offensive damage in the early innings, then added a key insurance run in the fifth. But the best highlights were the final three outs. With the tying run at the plate in the top of the seventh, Tori Nikirk made a terrific diving catch in shallow left-center field, then Graves started a sharp game-ending double play on a ground ball to shortstop.
“That double play was cool, and Tori going all out was something we’ve preached,” BNL coach Brad Gilbert said. “Every out is important, and that’s a perfect example. We didn’t let them get the tying run on base. That was huge.”
Charlestown scored in the first when Isabella Watkins was hit by a pitch, went to second on a wild pitch, and scored on Avarie Freiberger’s sharp single to left. But BNL came back with two in the first. Nikirk led off with a triple and scored when Graves ripped a liner to right for a sacrifice fly. Ava Ratliff doubled to center, Macee Nicholson reached on an error, and Ratliff scored on the back end of a double steal.
The Stars made it 3-1 in the second when Adalynn Bailey doubled to left, Nikirk singled to advance her another base, and Graves recorded her second sacrifice fly. Charlestown cut into that lead with a run in the third on a Watkins double and Freiberger sacrifice fly.
Runs became scarce from that point. BNL added a huge one in the fifth. Graves doubled to left, taking a chance for the extra base and barely beating the tag, and Sara Williams poked a two-out single to right for the 4-2 difference.
That was all Coleman needed. She struck out only two, which means the fielders behind her were constantly involved.
“The score was close, so we made sure our defense was sharp,” Graves said. “We made the plays we needed to make.”
Nikirk and Williams had two hits each for BNL. The Stars had 10 hits against Charlestown hurler Aleyah Glotzbach, but her defense was also up the task. The Pirates have been tough-luck losers. Their other two setbacks were one-run finals.
“We have a lot of young players that are still learning the nuances,” said Charlestown coach Joe Witten, a former Floyd Central and IUSE coach, now in his fourth season with the Pirates. “This was a great game to practice that. Bedford strikes out very little. It’s optimistic to see our freshmen make some nice plays.”
BNL, playing only its second home game of the season, also learned it can win in other ways than home-run bashing.
“Run-rule games, either way, really don’t do either team a lot of good,” Gilbert said. “It might feel good if you’re on the offensive side and winning, but those close games are good. And Karsyn pitched well. That’s what we needed.”
BNL will host Hoosier Hills Conference foe Jeffersonville on Thursday.
