Lady ‘Landers season comes to an end as Lady Huskies advance
Published 11:52 am Thursday, May 12, 2022
Star Photo/C.Y. Peters Cloudland catcher Taylor Hicks was a good three feet up the line from home plate however the umpire called the North Greene base runner safe on the play for the game's only run.
Star Photo/C.Y. Peters A Cloudland batter takes a hefty cut at a pitch on Wednesday.
Star Photo/C.Y. Peters A Cloudland base runner attempts to make it safely to first base as the ball is on its way.
Star Photo/C.Y. Peters Cloudland head coach Matt Birchfield helps make a call at third base as Karah Fields makes it to the bag while the Lady Huskie third baseman drops the softball.
Star Photo/C.Y. Peters Cloudland's third baseman camps under a pop-fly for an out.
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Only two teams remain in District 1 Class 1-A softball, Unaka
and North Greene.
Cloudland had many chances to score runs, leaving seven runners
on base and five of them in scoring position.
Karah Fields did a remarkable job on the mound for the Lady ‘Landers,
striking out three of the first four batters in the first. She walked only
two batters the entire game, allowed three hits, and struck out 10 of the 26
batters.
North Greene tagged up on an infield pop-up and was called safe
at the plate for the games only score and a 1-0 win that put them in the
finals on Thursday against Unaka.
In the second inning, Ella Benfield singled and Kendall Birchfield
laid down an excellent sacrifice bunt to advance Benfield to second.
That’s where she was left as the next two batters grounded out in the
infield.
In the fourth, Ryan Turbyfill walked, Benfield reached base on
an error and Birchfield moved the runners again to second and third.
That’s where they would stay. One batter struck out and the other hit
back to the pitcher to end the inning.
In the fifth with two outs, Fields singles as did Saharra McKinney and
Turbyfill was intentionally walked to load the bases.
Still, the Lady ‘Landers could score no runs.
At the top of the sixth inning, North Greene’s Zoe Sanders doubled and
she was moved to third on a fielder’s choice.
Gaby Campbell hit a high fly to the shortstop when Sanders tagged up
for home and was called safe on a close play at the plate.
Not many times in softball or baseball will you see a runner score on a
pop-up in the infield.
It was the only run needed to win the game and send the Lady Huskies
to the District title game and an automatic trip to the Regionals.
Campbell pitched a great game giving up only three hits and striking
out seven.
