Jayda Perkins hits this pitch over the scoreboard to give Madisonville a 1-0 lead.
In a game that gave every indication going in that it would be a pitchers’ duel, taking advantage of scoring opportunities that came up would be critical in the 7th District softball championship between Madisonville and Caldwell County. That turned out to be exactly the case.
In a game that was a pitching showdown between Madisonville’s Courtney Patterson and Caldwell County’s Katie Franklin, Madisonville took advantage of the one big opportunity they had, while the Lady Tigers missed out on a couple of big chances in the game, as the Lady Maroons pulled out a 3-0 win Tuesday evening in Madisonville.
The Lady Tigers first big chance came in their first at bat. Emma Rae Staples led off the game with a single. A walk to Mashea Glover gave Caldwell County runners on first and second with no outs. Katie Franklin hit into a ground out to advance the runners to 2nd and 3rd with just one away. However, Allie Felker hit a sharp line drive to short, enabling Madisonville to double up Glover at second to end the threat.
The Lady Maroons one big opportunity came in the bottom of the 3rd inning. Jayda Perkins led off the inning by clearing the scoreboard in left center to make it a 1-0 game. A Caldwell County error and two Lady Maroon singles then loaded the bases with one out. Courtney Patterson then helped out her own cause with a two run single to right to extend the lead to 3-0.
Caldwell County had one more big chance to get back in the game, or even take the lead, in the top of the fifth inning. Singles from Majah Hollowell, Shelby Lane, and Emma Rae Staples, loaded the bases with two outs, and brought Mashea Glover to the plate. Patterson was able to get Glover to hit into a force out to end the inning and the threat.
Caldwell County ended up outhitting Madisonville 7 to 5, but the Lady Tigers also committed three errors in the field.
Emma Rae Staples led the Lady Tigers, going 2-4. Shelby Lane, Haley Stiles, and Allie Felker all went 1-3 in the game.
Katie Franklin went all six innings for the Lady Tigers, giving up three runs, two of them earned, on five hits, striking out four, while walking none.
Courtney Patterson picked up the win for the Lady Maroons, going seven innings, giving up no runs, on seven hits, striking out seven, while walking two.
Both Caldwell County and Madisonville will now advance on to the region tournament, which gets underway Monday at Webster County.
