Published: May 07, 2008 02:57 pm            

Local Little League teams are in action!

It’s early May and already hundreds, if not thousands, of pint-size legs are zipping around the local ball diamonds in Grayson and Olive Hill; Little League season is well underway in both communities.

Last Monday night, the Rookie-league Red Sox in Grayson impressed their coaches in spite of a 5-1 loss to the Diamondbacks on Opening Night.

“Although we are a very young team, there is so much talent,” Red Sox coach James Collier told The Journal-Times.

“Defensively we played very sound and made some big outs when we needed them. Hats off to the D-backs, they hit the ball very well and they play great defense, too. Coach Elliott has a great team but I couldn’t be more proud of my team – they showed a lot of heart and they hustled the entire game.”

In the matchup with the Diamondbacks, Shawn Greenhill, Micah Adams, Seth Walker, Matthew Knipp, Trey Collier. Walker scored the run for the Red Sox and Collier collected the RBI-hit that sent Walker to the plate.

In a girls softball clash in the Olive Hill major league division, the Punkettes improved to 7-0 on the season with a 20-1 win over the Heat who went to 5-2 overall.

“We work well together and that helps us win,” Punkette right fielder Mary Epling told the Journal-Times after the game.

The Punkettes scored three runs in the first inning, tacked on seven more in the second and brought five to the plate in the third. Six more scores in the bottom of the fourth wrapped up the offense. The Heat pushed one across in the top of the fourth inning.

“Just having fun and being out here is the best part,” Heat catcher Karley Kiser said. “We try our best but it doesn’t matter if we win or lose.”

Leatha Reynolds was the winning pitcher for the Punkettes and Melissa Kiser and Alyssa Shelton shared duties from the mound for the Heat.

“We’re learning about the whole game,” Reynolds said. “I think playing defense is the best part, that’s what I like.”

Reynolds ripped a single and triple for the Punkettes at the plate. Nikki Bond tripled, Emily Russell roped a pair of singles and Alexis Berry also had a single.

Alyssa Shelton swatted a double for the Heat then converted her trip on base to the lone run.

In spite of the final result, both teams and all the kids certainly seemed to have enjoyed the couple of hours at the ballpark.

“In practice we work on rundowns on defense,” Melissa Kiser said. “And we just work on the basic fundamentals.”

Brooke Callihan, the Punkette first-baseman said her team has improved since the first practice earlier this spring.

“We’ve really improved our batting – we’re making sure we hit the ball.”

And Heat shortstop Mikaela Buckler also commented on working hard in practice.

“Coach wants us to get better on our defense – and we get better by practicing.”

Look for more on the local Little League teams and players in upcoming sports sections of The Journal-Times. Also, to get copies of The Journal-Times stat sheet, call 474-5101 or 1-800-247-6142.

        

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