Canton Tops Knox County In Softball Season Opener
Canton Tops Knox County In Softball Season Opener
By David Sharp
Canton countered a first inning Knox County score with five tallies in the bottom of the first inning of an August 20, 2007 season opener for both teams and went on to post an 11-1 five inning win. The contest was the first 2007 varsity softball action for both teams.
Amanda Woods drew a leadoff walk and eventually scored on Brittany Miller’s RBI ground out. Myra Parrish followed the free pass with a Knox County single. Lady Tiger freshman Kristyn Caldwell fanned a Lady Eagle batter to retire the side.
Tori Niemann walked to start off the Canton first inning. Kelsey Owsley reached base on an error. Emily Lay was hit by a pitch, loading the bases with nobody out.
Danielle Caldwell collected the first of two hits, driving in Niemann to knot the score. Jessi Logsdon slammed a bases clearing triple putting Canton up by three scores.
Knox County hurler Brittany Miller dug down and struck out the next two batters. The next two batters walked loading the bases again. Miller fanned a batter on three pitches closing an action packed opening frame. The Lady Eagles were charged with two errors in the first inning and trailed 5-1 after one inning.
Kristyn Caldwell pitched around Jordin Luthenauer’s hit for a scoreless KC second. Kelsey Owsley lit the fuse for a three run Canton second inning with a leadoff hit.
The Lady Tigers sent eight batters to the plate during a three run second inning. Jessi Logsdon and Kristyn Caldwell had Canton hits. Knox County was charged with eight errors during the five inning contest, two more during the second inning.
Knox County pressured the home team’s defense in the top of the third inning but failed to score. Brittany Miller recorded a Lady Eagle hit. Knox County had the bases loaded when Kristyn Caldwell induced a ground ball to first base for the final out.
Tori Niemann reached base for the second time in four plate appearances on a dropped third strike leading off inning three. Danielle Caldwell had a two out RBI hit plating Niemann for a 9-1 Canton lead after three innings.
Aron Taylor walked and scored the tenth Canton run in the fourth inning. Lindsey Dillard and Audrey Redmon had Lady Tiger hits in the fourth frame. Danielle Caldwell doubled in the Canton fifth and scored the eventual game winning run on a wild pitch.
“As a team, I thought we ran the bases well,” said Canton coach Andy Anderson. “Jessie Logsdon had a bases clearing triple in the first inning. Danielle Caldwell had two hits and scored three runs.”
Canton scored 11 runs on eight hits. Tori Niemann, Kelsey Owsley and Jessi Logsdon scored three Canton runs each. All nine Lady Tigers reached base during the contest. Kristyn Caldwell was the winning hurler, striking out six batters while scattering three hits.
Brittany Miller struck out six batters in 4 1/3 innings pitched. Four of the 11 Lady Tiger runs were earned according to Knox County stats. Canton took advantage of their opportunities to earn their first 2007 win.
“We had a lot of mental and physical breakdowns,” said Knox County coach Stephanie Crawford. “We came in with two good weeks of practice. I was really disappointed with the way we played. I don’t know if it was first game jitters or what.”
