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ELIZABETHTOWN – Sophmore Alara Cashwell lined a 2-run single to centerfield in the seventh inning that propelled West Bladen to a 5-4 Three Rivers Conference softball victory over East Bladen
With the score tied 3-3 and one out in the West Bladen seventh, senior Abby Dawson smashed a double to right-centerfield, and sophmore Kyla Reed reached base on an error as Dawson went to third. After Reed stole second base, Cashwell smoked a liner to centerfield that scored Dawson and Reed.
East Bladen battled back in the home seventh, junior Erica McKoy drilled a triple to left-centerfield, and sophmore Johanna Parker smacked a single to centerfield that scored McKoy.
Freshman Alyssa Futrell launched a towering drive to deep left, but Lady Knight senior Alise Pait went back and hauled it in for the second out. Shortstop Abby Dawson threw out the final batter with the tying run in scoring position.
“Her defense is the strength of Alise’s game,” said Lady Knight Coach Pam Stephens about Pait’s catch. “That was the ball game right there if that ball drops.”
The Lady Knights grabbed the early 1-0 lead as Reed swatted a double to right-centerfield, advanced on a passed ball and scored on Cashwell’s sacrifice fly.
Reed blasted a home run over the left field fence in the third inning to push the Lady Knight to 2-0.
East Bladen battled back with 2 runs in the third inning. Senior Kaley Smith reached base as the umpire ruled that the West Bladen thirdbaseman did not come up with a diving catch on her short bloop.
Smith advanced on a wild pitch, stole third and darted home on freshman Kayleigh Raynor’s infield hit. Raynor stole second and third base and scooted home on a passed ball to tie the game 2-2.
Sophmore Abbie Cross was hit by a pitch to start the Lady Eagle fifth inning. Raynor forced Cross at second base. Raynor stole second base and dashed home when McKoy belted a single to rightfield that put East up 3-2.
Junior Carley Dawson pounded a double to leftfield to start the Lady Knight sixth inning. One out later senior Brittney Landreth laid down a sacrifice bunt that scored Dawson to tie the game as the throw to the plate was dropped.
Carley Dawson batted 4-4 with a double and a run scored to lead the Lady Knight hitters. Reed finished 2-3 at the plate with a home run, a double, a run batted in and 3 runs scored. Cashwell doubled and drove in 3 runs. Abby Dawson doubled and scored a run, Collins added a hit, and Landreth had an rbi.
McKoy batted 2-3 with a triple, an rbi and a run scored. Teammates Raynor, Parker, Hollingsworth, Mendell, White and Smith contributed one hit each. Raynor scored 2 runs, and Smith scored one. Raynor and Parker drove in one run each.
Collins pitched a complete game for the Lady Knights and allowed 4 runs – 2 earned – on 8 hits, a walk and a hit batter while striking out four.
Raynor pitched a complete game for East Bladen and allowed 5 runs – 3 earned – on 9 hits and a walk while striking out nine.
The Lady Knights finished fourth in the Three Rivers Conference with a 10-8 record and 11-12 overall mark. Only two 2A teams are ahead of them in the standings.
“I don’t know if we will get in the play-offs or not,” said Coach Stephens. “We will just have to wait and see.”
Coach Chase Lancaster’s Lady Eagles are now 8-10 in the Three Rivers and 9-11 overall. East Bladen seniors Kaley Smith, Faith Johnson and Majesti Corbett were honored in pre-game Senior Night ceremonies.
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