JV Lady Tigers Finish 3rd
In Elkmont Tournament

by Jennifer King

The Junior Varsity Lady Tigers Softball Team played four impressive games last weekend to finish third in the Elkmont Invitational Tournament. Ardmore dropped a 4-3 game to Athens on Friday night in pool play. The Lady Tigers defeated East Limestone 12-3 on Saturday morning to wrap up pool play. Ardmore opened up the single elimination play, by picking up a 12-1 victory over Tanner, before falling 5-4 to West Limestone in the semi-final game.

Athens 4

Ardmore 3

Athens took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. The Lady Tigers fought back in the top of the fourth with two runs of their own to take a 2-1 lead. Callie Steadman and Kelsey Gilbert each reached base on an error and later scored.

Ardmore was able to hold Athens until the bottom of the fifth inning, when Athens' Courtney White hit a triple and later scored. With the game tied 2-2, the game went into the International Tie Breaker, due to the time limit.

The Lady Tigers took the first lead in overtime. Brittney Brown scored on a sacrifice bunt by Steadman, bringing the score 3-2. Athens grabbed two hits in the bottom of the sixth inning, and along with an error from Ardmore, picked up two runs to win the game 4-3.

Kelsey Gilbert took the pitching loss for Ardmore, striking out seven batters, walking three, and allowing five hits. Callie Steadman was the catcher.

Ardmore 12

East Limestone 3

Ardmore's bats were on fire on Saturday morning as they racked up 13 hits to defeat East Limestone 12-3. Leading the Lady Tigers in hits was Kelsey Gilbert with two singles a double, and Brittney Brown with three singles. Other hitters for Ardmore were Megan Honea and Emily Faulkner with two singles each, Kayla Thompson and Cherri Berry each hit a single, along with a triple from Amanda Ellis.

Callie Steadman led the Lady Tigers from the mound, striking out eight batters, walking two, and permitting six hits. Megan Honea was the catcher.

Ardmore 12

Tanner 1

The Lady Tigers continued to follow through with the bats on Saturday, as they picked up sixteen hits, to run past Tanner 12-1. Brittney Brown led Ardmore in hits with two triples and a single, while Callie Bryant pitched in three singles. Other hitters for Ardmore were Callie Steadman with a triple and a double, Megan Honea with two singles, Kelsey Turner, Krystal Thornton, Kelsey Gilbert, Brittney Miles, Amanda Ellis and Nikki Clark each with a single.

Brown took the pitching win for Ardmore, striking out seven batters, walking two, and allowing only four hits.

West Limestone 5

Ardmore 4

The Lady Tigers dropped the semi-final game to West Limestone 5-4. West took 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning, all which were unearned runs. West picked up another run in the top of the fourth inning as Ardmore remained scoreless. The Lady Tigers played an outstanding fifth inning, picking up four runs, but it was too late as the game was called due to the time limit. Amanda Ellis opened the inning with a triple and scored on a single hit by Callie Bryant. Bryant then scored on a single from Shelby Goldsmith. Krystal Thornton reached base on a walk, and along with courtesy runner, Nikki Clark, scored on a double hit by Callie Steadman.

Ardmore was able to pick up several hits throughout the game, but the errors outweighed the hits as Ardmore dropped out of the tournament after a 5-4 loss to West. Kelsey Gilbert took the pitching loss for Ardmore, striking out four batters, walking five, and allowing three hits. Callie Steadman was the catcher.

Athens 4

0 0 1 0 1 2 X X X 4 5 3

Ardmore 3

0 0 0 1 0 1 X X X 3 5 2

Home runs: None

WP: Eaton, LP: Gilbert

Ardmore 12

2 0 5 5 0 X X X X 12 13 2

East Limestone 3

1 0 1 0 1 X X X X 3 6 8

Home runs: None

WP: Steadman, LP: Siniard

Ardmore 12

2 4 2 0 4 X X X X 12 16 4

Tanner 1

1 0 0 0 0 X X X X 1 4 7

Home runs: None

WP: Brown, LP: Chrissy

West Limestone 5

4 0 0 1 0 X X X X 5 3 0

Ardmore 4

0 0 0 0 4 X X X X 4 8 6

Home runs: None

WP: Dison, LP: Gilbert