Homerun Lifts Ardmore
Over East Limestone
by Perry Lewter
A 3-run homerun in the bottom of the seventh gave the Ardmore Lady Tigers a 4-3 win over visiting East Limestone last Thursday. It was a win over Madison Academy and a loss to Elkmont earlier in the week as the regular season continues for the Ardmore Lady Tigers softball. Last Monday Ardmore returned from Madison Academy with a 4-1 win while on Tuesday Ardmore dropped a 1-0 decision to Elkmont.
After a two game slate this week, the Lady Tigers close out the regular season with Huntsville next Monday before post-season play begins.
Ardmore will face the East Limestone versus Madison County winner on May 3 the championship game will be on May 5. As the top seed, Ardmore will host that tournament. The Lady Tigers will automatic advance to the sub-state games.
Ardmore 4, East Limestone 3
Aarika Boggs’ round-tripper in the bottom of the seventh inning gave the Ardmore Lady Tigers a 4-3 come-from-behind win in a big area contest over East Limestone last Thursday. It was the second win of the season over the Lady Indians.
The visitors wasted little time scoring as Jyssica Pepper led off with a walk and scored on Cassandra McKinney’s base hit.
Ardmore got their first lead in the bottom of the fourth.
Amy Collier and Callie Steadman scored. Collier was hit by a pitch and scored on Amber Wise’s sacrifice. Callie Steadman hit into a fielder’s choice and scored when Jada Norton hit a double.
Danielle Holder and Pepper scored in the top of the seventh to give the lead back to East. Holder hit and Pepper walked before Carly Rhodes hit a 2-run double.
When Ardmore came to bat Norton was hit by a pitch, Kelsey Gilbert hit a single before Boggs cleared the bases with her over-the-fence hit.
Casey Steadman went the distance striking out 14 and walking five. She allowed five hits.
Kayla Sneed pitched for East Limestone striking out three and walking two.
Boggs hit a homerun and a single while Brittany Miles’ and Jada Norton’s double were the only extra base hits given up by Sneed. Jennifer Ratley, Wise and Gilbert each hit a single.
Carly Rhodes, Morgan Franks and Holder each hit a double for East.
Elkmont 1, Ardmore 0
Bailee Robinson hit a single and scored in the bottom of the first for the only run in Elkmont’s 1-0 win over visiting Ardmore last Tuesday.
Playing before the Elkmont student body, the Lady Tigers stranded three base runners in the opening inning. Sarah Solomon allowed just six Ardmore base runners all game as she picked up the win. She allowed five hits and walked one.
Kelsey Gilbert was tagged with the loss. The 8th grader allowed six hits and struck out two. She did not walk a batter.
Aarika Boggs hit a pair of singles for Ardmore. Amy Collier, Jada Norton and Gilbert each had a hit for the Lady Tigers.
Anna Grace Ussery hit a pair of singles for the winners. Megan Tribble, Robinson, Courtney Phillips and Megan Honea each added a single.
Robinson hit a single, moved to second on a sacrifice from Emily Locke and scored on a pair of throwing errors.
Ardmore 4, Madison Academy 1
The Ardmore Lady Tigers never trailed in their 4-1 win over a good Madison Academy softball team in Madison last Monday.
Brittany Miles broke the 0-0 tie in the top of the fourth after a pair of Lady Mustang fielding errors. The right fielder scored after hitting into an infield error. She scored when Callie Steadman hit into another error.
The Lady Tigers scored three runs in the seventh. That is the inning Ardmore got four of their seven hits.
Miles hit a double to begin the inning. Steadman followed with a single. Miles scored on Aarika Boggs’ base hit. Steadman scored when Casey Steadman hit a double.
The Lady Mustangs scored with two outs in the seventh.
Boggs got the pitching win. Casey, the older Steadman sister, hit a double and single while Boggs hit two singles. Miles hit a double as Callie Steadman and Amy Collier each had a base hit for Ardmore.