When Lilly Camp is on her game, the Aberdeen Bobcats are tough to stop.
Aberdeen’s star sophomore pitcher allowed just one hit to lead Aberdeen to an 8-0 victory over Elma on Tuesday at the Bishop Sports Complex in Aberdeen.
After giving up a double to Elma shortstop Emmie Spencer to start the game, Camp struck out six of the next seven batters she faced, with Elma’s Delayne Hanson reaching base on a two-out error in the second.
Just three Elma batters reached base the rest of the way against Camp. Emily Comer and Brooklyn Swarts drew walks in the third and fourth innings, respectively, and Callie Galligan reached first after being hit in the thigh by a Camp pitch in the sixth.
Aside from that, Camp was dominant, striking out 13 Eagles in picking up a complete-game victory.
“I struggled for a little bit, but once I know in my head what I am doing, I can fix it from there with my mechanics and mental aspect,” said Camp, who remained poised, collected and methodical in the circle for seven innings. “Once I start going, I’m pretty much good throughout the whole game. … I just tell my self what I need to do, mechanically.”
Camp was locked into a pitcher’s duel with Elma starter Madison Monroe through the first three innings of the game, with the Bobcats holding a slim 1-0 lead after leadoff hitter Aili Scott – on board with a single – scored on a fielder’s choice ground out by Alyssa Yakovich in the bottom of the first.
In the fourth inning, Aberdeen’s offense got to Monroe for three runs on an RBI double by Scotlyn Lecomte followed later by a two-run double off the bat of Britten Neal.
Aberdeen scored a pair of runs in each of the fifth and sixth innings, highlighted by a Shyanna Patrick run-scoring single and an RBI double by Laynie Yakovich.
RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Aberdeen’s Shyanna Patrick belts one of her three base hits during the Bobcats’ 8-0 win over Elma on Tuesday at the Bishop Sports Complex in Aberdeen.
“We were really loud in the dugout,” said Camp regarding Aberdeen’s offensive success. “It’s more fun when the dugout is loud as a team and I think it helps us going out there and being more confident with a loud dugout.”
“After Friday’s loss (to Hoquiam), the focus was getting back to our fundamentals. … And the focus here tonight, it showed,” Aberdeen head coach Jimmy McDaniel said. “Lilly is gaining confidence out on the mound when we are having rough innings and it showed tonight, she didn’t faze one bit. She threw a gem.”
Scott was a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs and Patrick went 3-for-4 with a double to lead the Aberdeen offense. Camp went 2-for-4 at the dish for the Cats.
Aberdeen also played clean in the field, committing just one error in the shutout victory.
“Knowing (Camp) can throw a game and the defense is behind her means the defense takes care of her,” McDaniel said. “They know the importance of not causing an error and making the routine, fundamental plays.”
For an improved Eagles team, the loss wasn’t a wash as facing a pitcher the caliber of Camp is a benefit to Elma come the league schedule, according to Eagles head coach Ashley Stancil.
“We enjoy playing Aberdeen because, hands down, (Camp) is probably the best pitcher we are going to face all year,” she said. “My girls put the ball in play, they just hit it right to them. … It’s one of those things that six games from now, or if we make it to state, it’s like, ‘If you guys can put the ball in play off of (Camp), you can play with anyone.’”
Stancil added that the lessons learned from facing Camp was arguably more important than the outcome of the game itself.
“There is no trophy for winning every non-league game,” she said. “We’re playing for the end goals of winning our league, going to districts and making it to state. I have a really good group of seniors that are really energetic about everything. … For them, to play this team and play this pitcher – in the games where we are facing girls that aren’t as good – it helps with their confidence.”
RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Elma shortstop Emmie Spencer, left, tags out Aberdeen pinch-runner Jaylyn Milton during the Bobcats’ 8-0 win on Tuesday at the Bishop Sports Complex in Aberdeen.
McDaniel said his team performed to the expectations set after the recent loss.
“This was expected. We expected to have a performance like this after that loss,” he said. “We don’t want to go backward, we want to progress forward and they excelled.”
Aberdeen (2-2 overall) hosts Black Hills at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Elma (4-2) hosts Napavine at 4 p.m. on Friday.
Elma 000 000 0 – 0 1 0
Aberdeen 100 322 x – 8 12 1
WP: Camp (7 IP, H, 13 K, 2 BB). LP: Ma. Monroe (5 IP, 6 ER, 9 H, 4 K, BB).
Leading hitters: Elma – Spencer (1-3). Aberdeen – Scott (4-4, 2 R); Patrick (3-4, 2B, R, RBI); Camp (2-4); L. Yakovich (1-4, 2B, RBI); Lecomte (1-3, 2B, 2R, 2 RBI); Neal (1-3, 2B, RBI); A. Yakovich (0-1, 2 R, RBI, BB).
