Lady Dragons fall to Madison in extra innings

By Jeremy Knight Special Correspondent
Published: April 3, 2008

On Tuesday March 25, the William Monroe varsity softball team traveled to take on nearby and long-time rival the Madison Mountaineers. The Lady Dragons came into the game still seeking their first win of the young season.

The first inning started off on a hot note for Monroe. Brittnee Conley drew a lead off walk. The very next batter, Taylor Collier, hit a double that looked as if it was going to score Conley. But after a great play by Madison, Conley was thrown out at the plate.

After a quick three up, three down in the second, Monroe got the bats going again in the third. Lauren Thompson reached on a Madison error to start the inning.

With two outs Melanie Lamb came up and hit a big double that scored Thompson for the first run of the game.

The Dragons threatened in just about every inning of this game, but were unable to get the big hit that would separate them from Madison in scoring.

Monroe pitcher Samantha Lawson had a no hitter through the first four innings, until Madison got their first hit in the fifth. The very next batter would then hit a triple, but the base runner was thrown out at the plate by Monroe to preserve their 1-0 lead.

However,that small lead would not hold much longer.

In the bottom of the sixth, Madison started a two out rally with a single, followed by an rbi double that tied the game at one.

The score would remain tied after the regulation seven innings and would require more.

In the top of the eighth inning the Dragons were not able to muster up any offense. Collier was hit by a pitch, but she was left on base after two fly outs ended their half of the inning.

In the Madison half of the eighth, the first two batters were set down with ease. But with two outs, Madison’s lead-off batter drew a walk to extend the inning.

The next batter then singled to advance the runner to second. With two outs and two on, Madison got the biggest hit of the game when a single drove in the go-ahead and game-winning run in dramatic fashion.

The hits in the game were virtually even with Madison having seven and Monroe, six. Leading the Dragons was Bethany Leake with two. Conley, Collier, Lamb and Lawson all chipped in with a hit of their own. Lamb had the only rbi for Monroe.

After the game, Coach Salita Sullivan spoke about the game. “We had very good pitching and played well defensively.”

Coach Sullivan also added, “We need to hit the ball better. Madison got the clutch hit when they needed it. This was a tough loss for us with Spotswood coming up next.”

With the loss the Dragons fell to 0-3, 0-1 in the district