Lady Cats defend turf

Benjamin Russell softball team wins own CACC Classic with three Saturday victories

By Dusty Harper (Contact) | Alex City Outlook

Published Monday, March 1, 2010

The Benjamin Russell softball team scored 38 runs in five games to win Friday and Saturday’s Central Alabama Classic. After a 1-1 Friday, the Lady Wildcats outscored their three Saturday opponents 22-6 to claim the crown and improve to 9-1 overall.

“It’s a really good start for our team,” head coach Pam Robinson said. “We came out focused on Saturday after losing Friday. I’m a firm believer that if you have one bad at-bat or play in the field, you have to let it go. Worry about what you can control. I think we were able to let our mistakes go instead of dwelling on them, which made us a lot more successful.”

The closest game of the night was against area foe Wetumpka, which beat Alabama Christian 13-3 to advance, in the championship game.

The Lady Cats, playing as the away team, struck for four first-inning, two-out runs. Following two errors and a walk by the Lady Indians, Y’Keona Kelley and Deandra Ransaw both singled to help the team to a 4-0 lead.

Wetumpka cut the lead in half on a two-run homer in the third, but Tatum Gandy singled and scored in the fifth when Wetumpka dropped a deep fly ball off the bat of Clair Thomas. WHS added two runs in the bottom half, however, and the lead was just one for BRHS heading into the final inning.

The Lady Cats got two insurance runs on a massive home run by Thomas that went into the parking lot, and they shut down Wetumpka in the bottom half for the win.

“We hit the ball again well, and I was happy with the pitching of Ashley Jones and Clair Thomas,” Robinson said. “It’s nice to have pitchers with two different styles. Hopefully, they are just different enough to throw off the other team when we switch. I fully expect Kaylen Given to come get some work in for us pitching, but she still hasn’t gotten into the flow after starting a little late.”

BRHS won the first game of the day 7-2 over Stanhope. Gandy and Lashley both had two RBIs, and Thomas had another two-run homer. Lysa Haynie scored twice and Kelley had two hits.

The Lady Cats avenged their Friday 5-4 loss to Opelika by shutting out the Lady Bulldogs 8-0 in the second game Saturday. A six-run third inning did most of the damage. Amber Cleveland homered to start it, and Shae Heard and Thomas both had hits. Walks and wild pitching led to the rest of the runs in the inning. Lashley and Kelley both homered in the loss.

BRHS hosts Childersburg today at 5 p.m.

Lady Cougars pick up one win

The Central-Coosa Lady Cougars went 1-3 in this weekend’s games.

C.A. Doyle’s team lost to Auburn 3-2, Stanhope Elmore 14-0 and Wetumpka 11-2. Coosa beat Horseshoe Bend 6-1.

“We’ve got a lot of things to work on,” Doyle said. “Injuries are affecting us, though. Against Horseshoe Bend, we were able to get runners on base and create some scoring chances, but we couldn’t get much going in some of the other games.”

Katie Smith has been the main pitcher for the Lady Cougars (2-5) this season. Doyle said she’s been up and down, but he’s mostly pleased with his senior.

“She’s pitched pretty well,” Doyle said. “She’s had some trouble finding umpire’s strike zones at times, but that happens. She was really good in our win. She kept the ball down and hit her spots.”

The loss to Wetumpka ended the Lady Cougars’ tournament on Saturday. The Lady Indians scored three times in the first inning, and the Lady Cougars couldn’t answer, despite putting two runners on in their half of the frame. Wetumpka added four runs in the third and four in the fourth to put it away.

Coosa travels to Sylacauga to face B.B. Comer today at 6 p.m.

Dadeville goes 1-2

The Lady Tigers’ bats went cold at the CACC Classic, as Dadeville was eliminated in three games.

Kasey Smith’s club fell to Holtville 4-3, beat Lee-Montgomery 9-4 and got shut out by Auburn 3-0.

DHS opened with Holtville, who scored three times with the help of three Lady Tiger errors in the first inning. DHS answered with runs from Shae Heard, Devin Hooks and Rae Williams in the second to tie it, but the Lady Bulldogs scored the game-winner in the third.

Reba Hawkins’ double was the only hit of the game for the Lady Tigers.

Against Lee, after falling behind 4-0, DHS stormed back for nine straight runs. Hawkins doubled and scored again in the victory, but the big blow was a three-run homer by Kim Greer.

The Lady Tigers of Auburn held DHS to three singles from Greer, Hawkins and Iranecia Moss in a 3-0 win.

“It was not a good day for Dadeville softball,” said Smith, whose team is now 5-6. “We had some girls who were too nervous and some who were a little too relaxed. We’ve got to get on the same page and pick it up at the plate.”

DHS hosts Elmore County today at 4:30 p.m.

HBHS off to 1-3 start

Horseshoe Bend took one game at the CACC Classic, downing Elmore County 4-2. The Lady Generals opened with a 4-1 loss to Opelika and closed with a 6-1 loss to Coosa.

HBHS opened the season last week by losing 3-0 to Woodland.

“I think we’re very talented this year, but we’re also very young,” head coach Kim Vickers said. “We have no seniors, so a lot of underclassmen are going to have to step up.”

Nikki Thompson and Ashley Foster are the top two pitchers this season for the Lady Generals. Vickers likes the combination.

“Nikki had a good year last year and she is our hard thrower,” Vickers said. “Ashley is good at placing the ball. I’m pleased with them so far.

“We just didn’t bring our bats to the tournament, and we’ve given up a lot of unearned runs,” Vickers said. “It’s like with the opener at Woodland – we let them on with errors and they stole home three times. We can be good, we’re just young.”

---

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THIS STORY?

---