Hundred Hornet pitcher Jordyn Gorby struck out 12 Lumberjill batters and drilled a double to lead the Lady Hornets to a hard-fought 5-3 victory over the Valley Lumberjills at Bryd Park in Pine Grove March 31.

Haley Hayes opened the game with a double and scored on a Raven McDiffitt single to score the game’s first run.

Gorby sat down the first two ‘Jill batters on strikes in the first inning, while the ‘Jills’ freshman hurler, Holli Schell, laid to rest the next three Hornet batters in order in the top of the second frame.

However, Gorby was on her game and silenced the Valley bats, striking out two in the bottom half.

In the top of the third, Taylor Highley singled for the ‘Jills’ first hit of the game. After a ground out, though, Gorby took it personal and struck out the next two batters to get out of the third without any damage. In the bottom half, the ‘Jills got one batter on base, but Gorby buckled down and got two of the next three batters on strikes.

In the fourth frame, Rachel Ashcraft pounced on a fast ball and drilled it to right field for a single. She was replaced by a courtesy runner. Nicole Bogan would then line a single up the middle and Taylor Ashcraft would load the bases on a Valley miscue. Hayes drilled a double that plated a pair and the Valley defense came to life and made a couple nice defensive plays to get out of the inning without any more damage.

In the bottom half, Gorby struck out the first batter, but Heidi Shaw blasted one over the right fielder’s head for a stand-up double. Senior third baseman Kayla Cecil smacked a triple to score Shaw. However, the ‘Jills couldn’t add to the total, as Gorby struck out the next two batters to get out of the inning.

Gorby led off the fifth with a stand-up double, stole third and came home on a wild pitch. However, Shell & Co. set down the next three batters in order.

In the bottom of the inning, Jessica Loy walked and reached second on a fielder’s choice, but was stranded.

In the top of the sixth, Bogan and Taylor Ashcraft both singled for the Lady Hornets. Goff doubled to score Bogan and McDiffitt singled. But, the relay throw to the plate got the out without to go to the bottom half. There, the ‘Jills scored the last run of the game after two outs. Cecil singled and stole second and scored on a Brooke Staley single.

Both teams played well enough to gain the win, but the 12 Gorby strike outs and 12 Hornet hits was just a little more than the ‘Jills’ seven hits and two strike outs. “That’s what I’m talking about,” said Valley Head Coach Gary Partridge. “We might have lost, but my girls battled to the end. I see improvement with every one of my girls. Hundred has a nice team and you must give them credit. But, my girls didn’t quit. They gave me everything they had and left it all on the field.”