Lady Dragons struck down by ball four(?)
Walk leads to lone score for Gibbs in 1-0 win
Clinton High Head Softball Coach Leonard Sams talks with pitcher Bree McKamey during the Lady Dragons’ district win over Anderson County last week. McKamey took the circle Monday against Gibbs in region play and hurled a gem. But she took a 1-0 loss after a controversial ball-four call led to the Lady Eagles’ only score. (photo:Ken Leinart )
Unfortunately for the Lady Dragons, the run scored was for the Lady Eagles in the bottom of the third.
“They beat us on a walk that should have never happened. It was painful,” said Leonard Sams, head coach of the Lady Dragons.
Offense was at a premium. Gibbs collected only five hits, and Clinton three.
Sarah Burton ended her career with two hits, including a triple. Marissa Eccles gave Clinton its other hit.
Bree McKamey pitched six innings and deserved better than her fate. She allowed one earned run on five hits. She also struck out two and walked three.
The loss ended the season for the Lady Dragons, who had played well all season.
In order to qualify for the region, Clinton had to get past Anderson County in a district elimination game last Wednesday.
The Lady Dragons got the 4-0 win backed by a masterful pitching performance by McKamey. She allowed only one hit and no earned runs in seven innings. She was also 1-3 at the plate.
“Bree shut them down and they pretty much couldn’t touch her,” Sams said.
The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fourth, when Clinton scored a run. The Lady Dragons tacked on three more in the bottom of the sixth.
Taylor Sherwood was 1-3 with two RBI, while Tomi Taylor and McKaylah Cantrell were each 1-2 with a RBI. Lynnlee Adkins was 2-3 and Cheryl Breeden was 1-3.
The win set up a showdown with No. 1 seed Halls later.
Coming off the emotional win over the Lady Mavs, the Lady Dragons were perhaps not prepared for the offensive onslaught of the Lady Red Devils.
Halls scored one in the first, three in the second, two in the fourth, one in the fifth, and two in the sixth to win 9-0.
McKamey was 1-3 with a double, Sherwood was 2-3, and Adkins was 1-3.