Novinger Nips Lady Tigers For Atlanta Tournament Title

Novinger Nips Lady Tigers For Atlanta Tournament Title

By David Sharp
An improved Novinger Lady Wildcat team bolted to a six run lead after the first three innings of an August 30, 2008 Atlanta Tournament softball game.

Brashear rallied to tie the game when all conference catcher Abby McKim slammed a clutch two out RBI double in the seventh inning tying the score at six.

The Lady Wildcats took advantage of three seventh inning walks and a wild pitch, posting a 7-6 victory. Novinger went on to win the tournament championship, followed by Brashear and Atlanta.

After a scoreless first inning, Novinger pitcher Callie Farrell reached on an error leading off the Lady Wildcat second inning. Becca White and Samantha Daniels belted RBI doubles off Lady Tiger starting pitcher Cierra Hines.

Trisha Potter drove home the fourth Novinger run of the second inning with a base hit. Kristen Love was the lone Brashear base runner during the first three innings. Love got on courtesy of a two out error but was stranded on first base.

Cheyenne Atchley and Becca White scored Novinger runs in the third inning for a 6-0 Lady Wildcat lead.

Macy Rogers put Brashear on the board with a leadoff home run in the fourth inning. Abby McKim, Katie Watson, and Tabitha Killen battled Novinger’s returning first team all conference pitcher for consecutive hits.

Stephanie Linhart plated McKim with an RBI bases loaded walk. Novinger got the last two outs of the fourth, stranding the bases full of Lady Tigers. Novinger led 6-2 after four innings of softball.

Cierra Hines and Stephanie Elsea stroked back to back leadoff hits in the Brashear fifth inning. Macy Rogers earned her second and third RBI’s of the contest with an RBI triple. Katie Watson drove Macy Rogers home with a one out base hit.

Novinger threw Watson out at second base attempting to stretch the hit to a double for the second out of the fifth inning. Solid Brashear defense and a strikeout kept Novinger at bay during the fifth.

Kelsey Potter drew a one out walk from Lady Tiger reliever Macy Rogers in the bottom of the sixth. The runner was stranded with no scoring. Callie Farrell retired Brashear in order during their sixth inning, setting the stage for the seventh inning.

Cierra Hines reached base on an error leading off the Brashear seventh, but was cut down at second base for the first out. Stephanie Elsea stroked a base hit. Elsea moved up to second base on an infield out.

Abby McKim delivered an RBI double up the middle on a 2-2 count, tying the score at six. Callie Farrell got a ground ball when she needed it, retiring the side with the go ahead run stranded on second base.

Callie Farrell drew a one out walk. Farrell stole second and moved to third on a misplay. The next two runners reached base via the walk.

All conference outfielder Whitley Sandretto took the next two pitches for balls. The 2-0 offering sailed to the screen for a wild pitch and Callie Farrell raced home with the winning run in a thrilling 7-6 Novinger victory.

Novinger scored seven times on five hits. Callie Farrell struck out three batters with no walks in seven innings pitched for the victory. Becca White went 2-2 at the plate with two Novinger runs scored.

Brashear (3-1) scored six times on ten hits. Macy Rogers pitched four innings plus of one hit softball with three strikeouts and eight walks. Rogers took the pitching defeat.
Cierra Hines allowed four runs on four hits in two innings pitched. Hines had no walks or strikeouts.

Macy Rogers was 2-4 at the plate with a home run, a double two runs scored and three batted in to lead the Lady Tiger attack. Stephanie Elsea had two hits in four at bats. Elsea scored two BHS runs. Katie Watson continued her good hitting with a 2-4 plate performance.

Abby McKim was 2-4 at bat with a run scored and another batted in.

Novinger defeated Atlanta by a 19-0 final score in the tournament’s final game nailing down the first place trophy.