Arlington’s pitching, defense shine against Cascade in conference victory

ARLINGTON — When the Lady Eagles get everybody involved, they tend to come out on top.

That was the case for Arlington in a 4-2 Western Conference victory over Cascade March 24.

Sophomore pitcher Hayley Fields worked the Bruins’ lineup with a upperclassman’s skill for five innings, letting her defense back her up as she scattered three hits in that time.

“Hayley pitched very well out there today,” said Arlington coach Lonnie Hicks. “She’s really starting to find her way.”

Without a strikeout, Fields really relied on her defense in those five innings, which responded without error on the routine plays and turning in a few of the spectacular variety. A couple of those came from the glove of second baseman Brittany Bovard.

“She’s had a pretty good glove,” said Hicks about Bovard. “But now she’s starting to make some SportsCenter-type plays out there.”

Bovard made a pair of such plays in the second and third innings, with a diving stop and glove flip to first base and tracking a ball all the way out to the right-field foul line for an over-the-shoulder catch.

Bovard said she draws her inspiration from her teammates’ defense.

“It totally picks you up when somebody else makes a great play,” she said. “You start to think, ‘yeah, I want to look cool too.’”

The Eagles tok a 1-0 lead in the third inning on an RBI double by Veronica Ladines that scored Lyndsey Turner. Ladines was also a part in the Eagles’ three-run fifth inning that proved to be the game-decider. Alyssa Campbell hit in Kalie Basher with a single and Ladines came around to score later in the inning on Rachel Backlund’s single. Finally Bovard hit in Campbell on a fielder’s choice.

Cascade rallied in the top of the seventh with two runs before being put away by Ladines, who pitched the final two innings.

Arlington earned a 2-0 mark in conference with the win and is 4-1 overall. The Eagles travel to Stanwood March 30.

Contact Arlington Times Sports Reporter Travis Sherer at tsherer@marysvilleglobe.com or 360 659-1300 Ext. 5054.

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