BLOOMINGTON
Greenwood never had a footing in Tuesday’s Class 4A sectional semifinal.
Martinsville set the tone from the beginning of the game and took control early. And though the Woodmen fought, the Artesians methodically pulled away as the game progressed. Martinsville handed Greenwood a 11-1 defeat, ending the Woodmen’s season.
Martinsville (16-11) got a stellar effort from senior pitcher Chloe Huff, who kept the Woodmen’s offense in check. Greenwood (4-20) had trouble with Huff’s high velocity and couldn’t sustain enough rallies to keep the game close. In five innings in the circle, Huff allowed just one earned run on four hits with seven strikeouts.
Freshman Isabella Blythe started in the circle for the Woodmen and minimized damage in the first, allowing just one run on no hits. But she was less fortunate in the second inning, as Martinsville racked up four runs on five hits. The Artesians continually made strong contact off Blythe in that second frame, and Greenwood head coach Stephanie Senac opted for a pitching change in the third. Junior Courtney Hankenhoff came in from shortstop and did not fare much better. Across four innings of work, she allowed five earned runs on eight hits, with four strikeouts.
In total, Martinsville recorded three extra-base hits, including a solo home run by senior pitcher Karrsen Pruitt. Pruitt closed out the game in the circle for the Artesians and threw two scoreless innings with just two Greenwood hits. She finished 2 for 4 at the plate with two RBIs and two runs scored. Junior Addison Massey-Deckard, junior Paycee Lewis, and Huff all also finished with multi-hit games for the Artesians.
Greenwood got on the board in the fourth inning on a line drive to center field by freshman first baseman Kinsley Clark, driving in Hankenhoff.
Junior third baseman Emma Chism went 2 for 3 with a single and a double, and she reached base a third time on an error. Hankenhoff finished 2 for 3 with two singles and the run scored.
Blythe also picked up a hit, giving Greenwood six total against Martinsville’s 13.
This is Martinsville’s third win of the season over Greenwood. The teams played on back-to-back days in mid-April, and the Artesians earned 13-7 and 14-3 victories in those.
Martinsville moves on to take on Mooresville in the sectional final on Thursday at 6 p.m.
