BRET BEVENS

PDT Sports Writer

RUBYVILLE- ‘Practice makes perfect,' as the old saying goes.

The Green Lady Cats are hoping their practice is good enough to keep their record perfect.

Green's softball squad took another step in that journey Wednesday afternoon.

Ali Thompson pitched a complete game shutout for Lady Cats to improve their record to 5-0 overall and 3-0 in the SOC I.

She retired the last 14 batters she faced.

Thompson recorded nine strikeouts, including striking out the side in the sixth inning to pick up the win. Thompson only gave up two hits on the night and did not walk a batter en route to the Lady Cats' 4-0 win.

“Ali (Thompson) was on tonight,” said Green coach Jessica McIlhenny. “She was hitting her spots. This was one of her best games.”

Thompson also had success at the dish going 2 for 4 with two RBI and a triple.

Despite her personal success, Thompson gave her teammates credit.

“It was just a routine game,” Thompson said. “Everyone stuck together tonight.”

For Clay, Cami Groves was hit with the loss. Groves gave up four runs through seven innings, striking out eight and walking three.

The loss drops the Lady Panthers to 2-2 overall and lowers them to under. 500 in the conference at 1-2.

The SOC I tilt was a picther's duel for the first four innngs with Groves and Thompson trading scoreless innings.

In the top half of the fifth Amanda Avery reached base and advanced to third on a throwing error. The next batter, Thompson, helped her own cause with a RBI single.

“I was just excited to score,” Avery said.

“We opened up the gate for them,” said Clay coach Teresa Ruby.

Abby Barrett gave the Lady Cats an insurance run with a solo shot in the top half of the sixth inning to double the lead to 2-0.

“Everyone was on tonight,” said Barrett, “I knew (as soon as I hit it) it was gone. You can kind of tell.”

The Lady Cats added a pair of cushion runs in the seventh inning. After singling, Avery was brought home on a Thompson triple. Thompson was later plated on a RBI groundout by Barrett.

“It (Green's success) has benn a little bit of everything,” McIlhenny said. “It's big pitching and big hits.”

“We had nine strikeouts,” said Ruby, “We didn't get good at bats. They (Green) came focused.”

BRET BEVENS can be reached at (740)-353-3101 ext. 243

Green 000 101 2 - 4 5 0

Clay 000 000 0 - 0 2 1

WP: Ali Thompson; LP: Cami Groves

Hitting Leaders-

Green- Avery 2-4, Thompson 2-4, 2 RBI, 3B; Barrett 1-4, 2 RBI, HR.

Record- Green 5-0 (3-0); Clay 2-2 (1-2)