Published: August 20, 2008 09:48 am            

Clarkdale High School softball

By Chris Brennaman

Staff Writer



Even with the rain beginning to fall, the red-hot Clarkdale bats didn’t show any signs of cooling off in the late innings of Tuesday’s game against West Lauderdale.

The Lady Bulldogs (5-0) tacked on five runs in the bottom of the sixth to extend a one-run lead, effectively ending any chance West (3-4) had for a comeback. The 12-6 victory was the home opener for CHS

“That’s the perfect time to score, when your opponent is down to their last three outs,” Clarkdale head coach Rick Roberson said. “It really took the wind out of (West Lauderdale’s) sails.”

All of the Lady Bulldogs’ runs in the sixth came with two outs. A single by Amber Spann moved Cayla Coleman to second and an error by second baseman Haleigh Moffett allowed Olivia Whitlock to load the bases.

Then Katie Sanders cleared them on what should have been an inning-ending groundout. Moffett fielded the ball cleanly, but the toss to second was mishandled by C.C. Lawn. A throw home was not in time as Spann slid in safely, following Coleman home. The ball, which was still live, then sailed over the head of pitcher Emily Pogue, allowing Whitlock to score and Sanders to move to third. A single by Cory Roberson sent the final run of the game home.

“A lot of folks contributed, up and down the lineup,” Rick Roberson said. “Getting those runs home in the sixth was key. We had left some runners on earlier in the game.”

The Lady Bulldogs stranded a total of eight runners – including two each in the first, second and third.

CHS got on the board in the first inning when Abby Roberts sent a ball into right-center field that was misplayed, bringing Sarah Beckman – who had doubled to start the inning – home. The Lady Knights tied it up with Ashley Adams’ solo shot to lead off the second.

Clarkdale answered with eight runs in the bottom of the frame on seven hits – all singles. A would-be ninth run was gunned down at the plate when Sarah Harris was sent home from second on a Whitlock single.

Roberts and Roberson led the way for the Lady Bulldogs, each going three-for-four, including a double for Roberson. Tambria Davis also had three hits for WLHS, while Moffett added a double for the Lady Knights in the third.

        

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