Sanders, Motes combine for no-hitter as Troy Belles roll
Published 11:38 pm Friday, June 20, 2014
Molly Kate Sanders was the locomotive, and Lexi Motes followed as the caboose on the Troy Belles no-hit train Friday night.
Sanders and Motes did not give up a hit, and pitched Troy to an 11-0 win over Greenville in the first round of the Dixie Belles Sub-District Tournament Friday night in Troy.
Sanders got the start in the circle, and tossed three innings before giving way to Motes in the fourth.
Motes allowed two base runners in the fifth, but slammed the door shut on the late rally attempt by getting a pop up and ground ball to end the game.
“I am really proud of the way our pitchers threw tonight,” Troy head coach Larry Sanders said. “Molly Kate started the game well and Lexi had a couple of nerves, but got the job done. The short game helped us save some of our pitchers, and I think we will be fine pitching wise.”
At the plate, Troy struggled early, but came alive in the second inning to plate four runs.
Two of Troy’s second-inning runs came on one swing, as catcher Tucker Earles turned on 2-2 pitch and drove it deep over the left field wall for a two-run homer.
The homer appeared to open the flood gates for Troy, as the Belles would go on to plate another run in the second before exploding for seven more runs in the third inning.
“The girls were a little nervous to start, but everything worked out,” Sanders said. “We need to get a couple of girls that usually hit to start hitting some more, but overall I like where we are. We have only had two practices, so I guess things are going right.”
With the win, Troy advances to the second round of the Sub-District Tournament and will meet South Dale at 8 P.m. Saturday.
“If we keep playing well, like I know we can, everything will be OK,” Sanders said. “We just have to play confident and not make too many mistakes.”