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DUBLIN – West Bladen’s Lady Knights clinched sole possession of the Four County Conference softball championship on their Senior Night Thursday with an 11-0 victory over East Bladen.
“This is a goal that these girls have had for the last two years,” said Lady Knight Coach Joey Autry. “This is a great group of girls and I am so proud of them.”
The Lady Knights finished second a year ago to Heide Trask, but posted a 13-1 conference mark this season to claim the title. West Bladen is 19-3 overall and now awaits Monday announcement of the Class 2A play-off pairings.
Senior Logan Autry smashed a double down the right field line to ignite a 4-run West Bladen first inning. Senior Alanna Ludlum walked, and sophomore Carley Dawson ripped a single to centerfield that scored Autry.
A throwing error on senior Sophia Singletary’s grounder plated Ludlum. Sophomore Conner Brisson belted a single to centerfield that scored Carley Dawson and Abby Dawson, the courtesy runner for Singletary.
Brisson slapped a one-out single to right field in the third inning. Senior Kathryn Schultz smacked a single off the second baseman’s glove. Senior Kassidy Anderson knocked in Brisson with a single to centerfield, and Autry reached base on an error as Schultz scored to push the lead to 6-0.
Senior Emily Scott and junior Faith Johnson started the East Bladen fourth inning with back-to-back singles. Sophomore Anna Kate White reached base on an error that loaded the bases with one out. A one-hopper to pitcher Singletary forced Scott at the plate, and the Lady Knights tagged out another runner at third to end the inning.
Carley Dawson’s drive to right field was dropped in the fourth inning. Singletary belted a single to centerfield that scored Carley Dawson. Brisson yanked a double down the left field line that plated courtesy runner Abby Dawson.
Schultz raked a single to left that drove home Brisson. Senior Jenna Dove cracked a single to right field that scored Schultz. Anderson crushed a double that one-hopped the left field fence, and Ludlum raked a single to left that scored Dove for an 11-0 lead.
Singletary pitched a 5-hitter to raise her record to 14-3. The tall right hander struck out two and walked none.
Brisson batted a perfect 3-3 with a double, a run batted in and a run scored. Schultz finished 2-2 at the plate with an rbi and 2 runs scored. Ludlum turned in a 2-3 game at the plate with an rbi and a run scored. Anderson batted 2-4 with a double and an rbi.
Autry doubled and scored a run, and Laikyn Pait, Carley Dawson, Singletary and Dove added one hit each. Carley Dawson and courtesy runner Abby Dawson scored 2 runs each. Dove scored one run. Carley Dawson, Singletary and Dove had one rbi each.
Freshman Johanna Parker batted 2-3 to lead the East Bladen hitters. Scott, Johnson and sophomore Ja’Tyra Moore-Peterson added one hit each.
Coach Patty Evers had announced before the season started that this was her final season at the helm of the softball Lady Eagles. “There is a lot of great potential on this team, and I think Chuck (Assistant Coach Heustess) will do a great job with them next season.”
Evers continued, “Our goal was to improve on last year and we did that with six wins. Emily Scott has been a great role model for the young players on this team.”
East Bladen finished their season with a 6-11 record and 4-10 conference mark.
Seven Lady Knight seniors were honored in Senior Night festivities. They included Jenna Dove, Alanna Ludlum, Kassidy Anderson, Logan Autry, Kathryn Schultz, Laikyn Pait and Sophia Singletary.
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