4A NORTH REGIONAL SOFTBALL : Offense pitches in, helps McCormick
Posted on Wednesday, May 7, 2008
FARMINGTON — Clarksville got just enough offense to get by Tuesday and let Haley McCormick do the rest.
McCormick gave up one earned run, struck out nine and did not allow a walk in a four-hit complete-game victory as Clarksville defeated host Farmington 5-2 in the Class 4 A North regional championship game at Lady Cardinal Field.
Clarksville (25-6 ), which lost in the state final in 2006 and 2007, won its first regional title and earned a No. 1 seed for the Class 4 A state tournament in Nashville.
“I just came in and knew I had to get the job done,” McCormick said. “We have nine seniors, and we all wanted it really badly. Regionals have definitely brought our spirits up, and hopefully that continues on at state.” Farmington (24-7 ) scored the game’s first run when Lacey Kragel swatted a long home run to left with two out in the top of the first inning.
Lady Cardinals Coach Randy Osnes knew that wouldn’t be enough to put away Clarksville, which had defeated Farmington in the teams’ prior meeting this season.
“I was thinking, ‘That’s good, now let’s get some more,’” Osnes said. “One run is not going to win it on either side.” Skyler Smith retired the first six Clarksville batters in order before running into trouble in the third inning.
A line drive by Kelsey Meek got away from Kragel in center field for a two-base error, scoring Courtney Wilson to tie the score 1-1. The Lady Panthers took a 4-1 lead with three more runs in the inning, all unearned, on RBI singles from Sarah Jo Harvey and Kelsey Mefford and a passed ball.
“Meek’s hit got everything going,” Clarksville Coach Bob Mooney said. “It would’ve been a good catch had [Kragel ] gotten it. We got the bases loaded, they got a strikeout on us, and we got another run.
“ Things happened, and we just capitalized.” Farmington cut the Clarksville lead to 4-2 on an RBI single by Samantha Luther in the fifth inning, but the Lady Panthers came right back later in the inning when Tierra Chenault singled up the middle to score Harvey.
McCormick (24-5 ) has earned the decision in all but one of Clarksville’s victories this year.
“We rely a lot on her,” Mooney said. “We finally got some sticks going tonight, and Haley was able to do what she does best.” Harvey and Lacey Phillips had two hits each for Clarksville. Farmington (24-7 )................ 100 010 0 — 2 4 2 Clarksville (25-6 )................. 004 010 x — 5 8 1 Smith and Clark. McCormick and Wilson. W — McCormick (24-5 ). L — Smith (21-7 ). HR — Kragel. DARDANELLE 8, WALDRON 6 Jasmine Byers and Niki Possage each hit a two-run home run to help Dardanelle win the third-place game. Byers drilled a shot to center to give the Lady Lizards (18-10 ) a 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning, but she had to leave the game later in the inning after injuring her knee while making a running catch in center field. Dardanelle took an 8-2 lead when Shayna Moudy walked in a run in the sixth, but Waldron (18-10 ) came back with four runs in the bottom of the inning off four singles and a two-run triple by Andrea Sims, who finished 2 for 2. Dardanelle (18-10 )............... 121 211 0 — 8 9 1 Waldron (18-10 ).................. 020 004 0 — 6 9 3 Carter and Battenfield. Allen, Moudy (5 ), Allen (7 ) and Root. W — Carter. L — Allen. HR — Byers, Possage.
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