Springs Valley Community High School

The Springs Valley softball team hit a bump in the road early against Patoka Lake Athletic Conference rival Mitchell on Tuesday. The Bluejackets opened the game with a run, then scored three more in the second inning to take a 4-0 lead. Rather than folding, the Blackhawks rose to the occasion and closed their deficit instantly. Two runs crossed the plate on a Brynne Buchanan single, then two more came in after Emri Allen dropped a blooper into no man’s land in short left field. Lily Hickman gave the Blackhawks a lead in the next at-bat and they never looked back, taking that 5-4 lead and going on to win 9-5. “I think it’s huge for our girls that we got down 4-0 and didn’t hang our heads. We knew that we still had work to do and we could get caught up,” Springs Valley coach Jill Stephens said. “I think that’s huge for our girls because the mental game isn’t always easy to fix and a deficit like that isn’t always easy to overcome.” Springs Valley’s offensive surge was powered by the top three hitters in its lineup: Buchanan, Allen, and Hickman. That trio combined to go 8-12 with a double, six runs batted in, and four runs scored. They also only left one runner on base and stole two bases. That kind of production from those players who aren’t just the top three hitters in the batting order, but also leaders for the team, was absolutely pivotal as it inspired confidence not only in their teammates, but in themselves as well. “It was big for them to get some hits and kind of remind themselves that they do have big bats, that they are able to hit like they showed tonight,” Stephens said. “That’s all on top of showing the other girls and being leaders and things like that. We’ve had some struggles at the plate and tonight that kind of all went away.” Bostyn Rowlett kept the Blackhawks’ momentum moving forward after their five-run explosion. She led off the third inning for Springs Valley and wasted no time changing the score. The senior blasted one over the fence in center field, increasing Springs Valley’s lead to 6-4 and setting the tone for the rest of the game. It was her second home run of the season, tied for the team lead, and it was also her second hit of the season. The Blackhawks hope that this three-game stretch she’s on — she’s 2-6 with two home runs and three runs batted in since April 19 — will spark more strong performances moving forward. “We know that Bostyn can do that. When her brain and her mechanics all come together, she has a beautiful swing and she had it tonight. We hope to see it more,” Stephens said. “I’ve told the girls all year that if you’re going to hit the ball, you’re going to be somewhere in the lineup and that’s what she’s done. She’s worked her way into it.” The win is the third in the last five games for Springs Valley (5-6, 3-1 PLAC), which is rapidly approaching the .500 mark and is still very much in the hunt for a conference championship. The Blackhawks will try to keep it going on Thursday, traveling to Paoli for a crucial matchup. Not only are the Rams a county and conference rival, the Blackhawks will also be looking for redemption. Two years ago, they made the same trip they’ll make Thursday just days after a big upset against West Washington and fell flat on their faces, losing 15-2 to a Paoli team that would finish the season with a 5-10 record. It ultimately lost them a share of the conference title that season as well. As they roll into Paoli, though, they’ll lock in on what they’re there to do and try to block out everything else. “The rivalry is there plus the conference (implications). Even though we’re in a good spot for the conference, we still need to finish what we’ve started with that,” Stephens said. “There are some personal things between girls, just like high-school girls have, so it’s going to be big, but as coaches we have to get them reined in. We’ve got a job to do over there so we have to take all of that other stuff out and remember what we’re there to do in the first place.” BLACKHAWKS 9, BLUEJACKETS 5 MITCHELL;|;SPRINGS VALLEY ;AB;R;H;BI;|;;AB;R;H;BI C Mullis 2b, ss;4;1;2;1;|;Buchanan ss;4;2;2;2 Southern ss, p;4;1;2;0;|;Allen cf;4;2;2;3 Tanglao cf;2;1;0;1;|;Hickman p;4;0;4;1 P Mullis 3b;2;1;1;0;|;Kluesner 1b;2;0;0;0 Coleman p, 2b;4;0;0;0;|;Rowlett lf;3;1;1;1 Russell 1b;3;0;2;2;|;Eckerty dh;3;2;1;1 Chastain dh;3;0;0;0;|;Tucker rf;1;1;0;0 Payton c;3;0;0;0;|;Marshall ph;1;0;0;0 Brazzell lf;2;1;0;0;|;Pantoja c;4;0;1;1 Allen rf;0;0;0;0;|;Bonta 2b;2;0;0;0 |;Sylvester ph;1;0;0;0 |;Robison cr;0;1;0;0 Totals;27;5;7;4;|;Totals;29;9;11;9 Mitchell (9-7);310;000;1—5 Springs Valley (5-6);052;002;X—9 E: Mitchell 1, Springs Valley 1. LOB: Springs Valley 8, Mitchell 5. 2B: Hickman. HR: Rowlett, C Mullis. SB: Allen, Hickman. S: Tucker. SF: Tanglao. ;;IP;H;R;ER;BB;SO Mitchell;Coleman (L);2.0;4;5;0;0;1 ;Southern;4.0;7;4;4;3;4 Home;Hickman (W, 5-5);7.0;7;5;2;2;4 HBP: Rowlett (by Coleman), Tucker (by Coleman), Tanglao (by Hickman).