BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Host and top seed Madison County scored three unearned runs in defeating the Union County High School softball team 4-2 in a Region 3-Rural semifinal game on May 8.
The fourth seed Tigers (15-9) scored a run in the top of the seventh and had two on with one out, but Madison pitcher Alden Bass struck out two straight to end the game. She had 10 strikeouts in all.
Madison (19-1) scored its first run in the bottom of the first. Bass walked with one out and stole second before Anna-Kayte Smith reached on an error. A pop-up to shortstop Bass scored on a two-out error, which allowed Smith to advance to third. Pitcher Shyla Crowe then recorded a strikeout to get out of the inning.
The Cowgirls threatened to score in the second. With two outs and no one on, Jaidyn Wesley walked, while Emery Ratliff singled. They were left stranded when catcher Campbell Webb caught a foul pop-up for the third out.
Madison’s half of the third began the same was as its half of the first, with Bass walking and stealing second. Smith hit a fly ball and reached on an error, which allowed Bass to score and Smith to advance to third. Kylee Hutto ground into a fielder’s choice, which allowed Smith to score and put the Cowgirls up 3-0.
The Tigers got a one-out double from Courtney Manning. With two outs, Webb hit a fly ball and reached on an error, which scored Manning and put Union on the board. An infield pop-up ended the inning.
Madison’s Smith hit a solo home run in the fifth to end the scoring for the Cowgirls.
The final inning saw leadoff batter Webb reach on an error. After a strikeout, Webb moved to second on a passed ball before scoring on a Crowe double. Mia Kent then drew a walk before Madison’s Bass fanned two in a row.
Crowe, Dicks and Manning had all of the Tigers’ hits, with each going 2 for 3.
In the circle, Crowe pitched a complete game, allowing just four hits.
