(by Don Meador, The Citizen-Times, April 5, 2017, used with permission)
The Allen County-Scottsville Lady Patriot softball team recorded a pair of back-to-back wins last weekend. Friday, a three-hit pitching performance by Karley Burchett helped the Lady Patriots down the Lady Purples from Bowling Green, 9-0. A day later, a three-hit day by Kalee Skaggs helped AC-S defeat Boyle County 6-5.
The Lady Patriot offense staked Burchett to a three-run lead prior to the sophomore throwing her first pitch. In the top of the first, Ryley Whitney’s single scored Skaggs to enable AC-S to grab a 1-0 lead. Back-to-back singles from Madi Gregory and Ally Bryn, a wild pitch from Bowling Green’s Gia Martin and a single by RaeAnn Stafford helped AC-S plate three runs in their first at bat.
After a scoreless second inning, Gregory doubled to lead off the third. Byrn followed with a single and Kassi Bullington walked to load the bases. Gregory then scored on a second wild pitch. On a Stafford fielders’ choice grounder, Bullington scored the fifth run of the game. Burchett ripped a double to center field allowing Stafford to score from firt to stake AC-S toa 6-0 lead.
The Lady Patriots added their final three runs in the fourth and sixth innings. In the third, courtesy runner Alex Coleman scored on a sacrifice bunt by Gregory. Two innings later, a Skaggs double, a Taylor Stamps single, and a Whitney double led to two runs and a 9-0 AC-S lead.
The offensive attack was more than enough for Burchett. Showing solid control, Burchett struck out five of the 25 Lady Purples she faced in the game. Ibn addition, Burchett throw 48 strikes in her seven innings of work, forced Bowling Green to hit into seven ground ball outs, and only walked one batter.
Skaggs led the offense with a three-for- five day at the plate. Stamps, Whitney, Gregory, Byrn, and Burchett also had two hits in the game---a game in which AC-S finished with 14 hits. Whitney, Skaggs, Gregory, and Burchett also had doubles. Stafford and Whitney led the team with two RBI’s.
“I was a little concerned because we had not had field time with the four rainouts this week,” Bunton noted following the game. “I didn’t know if the girls would be ready to play. But, we came out and did what we needed to do.”
Saturday’s contest wasn’t as easy as AC-S faced a very solid Lady Rebel team from Boyle County. The Lady rebels singled four times in the top of the first inning and scored two runs off AC-S starter Kris-Anne Pardue. However, AC-S answered with a run in their at-bat in the inning. Stamps reached base after taking a pitch off her shoulder. Stamps would come around to score two batters later on a hard double off of Gregory’s bat.
Pardue settled down and held the Lady Rebels scoreless in the second---in part to a text-book defensive play by Stafford. With Lady Rebel Rooney on first, Boyle County’s M Robbins hit a roller to Stafford. As the Lady patriot second baseman fielded the ball, she collided with the leg of Rooney. The impact knocked Stafford’s mask off yet Stafford was able to tag Rooney and then toss the ball to Gregory at first base to complete the inning-ending double play.
After Boyle County added a run in the top of the third, the Lady Patriots answered with a three-run inning to grab the lead. Skaggs and Stamps singled. Whitney followed with a two-run double. Moments later, Pardue helped her own cause with a RBI single, scoring Coleman, the courtesy runner for Whitney and giving the Lady Patriots a 4-2 lead.
Bullington led off the bottom of the fourth with a walk and would come around to score AC-S;s fifth run after a single by Skaggs. The Lady Rebels countered with a run in the fifth and would pull even at five after three singles in the top of the sixth led to a run.
AC-S responded in their at bat in the sixth. Whitney led off with a double. Coleman went in to run and would come around to score after an error on the Boyle County first baseman. Boyle County got a runner on base in the seventh before a groundout to Stafford at second ended the game.
Pardue earned the win on the mound despite giving up five runs on 12 hits. Pardue struck-out six batters in the game and tossed 82 strikes and 45 balls in the game.
Offensively, Skaggs led the way with her second three-hit day in a row. Pardue, Stafford, and Whitney also had two hit afternoons. The Lady Patriots finished with 11 team hits.
“We came out with a little fire,” coach Robert Bunton said. “Our girls did their job. We had a few mistakes but we were able to overcome them. Boyle County is a really good team and I’m very proud of the way we played today.”
Coach Bunton added that he likes the fact that his line-up, from top-to-bottom, is putting the ball in play.
“Everybody produced and that what you need,” Bunton added. “If you just have two of three producing you will not get very far but we are getting production from our entire line-up. “
AC-S (5-3) will see more tough competition this weekend at the Bob Jones Invitational in Madison Alabama.
”We play two of the top-15 teams in Alabama,” Bunton explained. “No matter if we win or lose, we are going out and focus and play our game and do what we need to do to become a better team.”
The Lady Patriots are scheduled to play Plainview at 5:30 Friday afternoon at the Sportsplex in Madison. AC-S will follow with a second game that evening against Buckhorn. The Lady Patriots will play at least one game on Saturday before the tournament shifts into single elimination play.