Published: May 21, 2008 01:29 pm            

Lady Comets clock Morgan, face East in district title game

WEST LIBERTY - West Carter took on Morgan County in Girls District Softball on Monday night in West Liberty. After seven innings of play, the Comets stood on top, 5-1. The win sends the girls from Olive Hill into the final against rival East Carter in a rematch of last season’s 62nd District title game.

A single in the top of the first shook first baseman Briana Buckler, but quick defense on a grounder and a stopped fly to right by Stephanie Orcutt set a better pace. A strikeout by pitcher Clarissa Burton brought the girls to the plate.

Three pop outs were stopped by the Cougars but Burton countered with three impressive strikeouts in the top of the second. Going into the bottom of the second, both teams stood at zero. Isabella Gearhart and Buckler both made too-hot-to-handle hits to center. Chelsea Collier singled to bring in one RBI and give West the 1-0 lead.

At the top of the third, Burton threw twin strikeouts, but Morgan’s girls picked up their game when one batter tripled on what looked to everyone but the umpires to be a foul. Another batter singled, bringing in the trying run, but was tagged out stealing second. West catcher Sydnie Cox threw to Lena Reynolds who tagged her to end the inning. Back at the plate the teamwork continued as Cox outran a bunt for a single and Reynolds tripled with multiple errors by Morgan’s defense for one RBI. Gearheart sent a fly to the short stop, but Reynolds was tagged out after failing to properly tag back to end the inning.

West Carter was ahead 2-1 at the top of the fourth. Morgan had a runner on first when Cox threw off her mask and caught a popped bunt, then threw to Buckler at first for the double play. Buckler stopped a grounder to head back to the plate.

Morgan held the Comets during the bottom of the fourth, and the girls returned to the field with a vengeance. Buckler stopped a grounder and Burton threw her seventh and eighth strikeouts of the evening.

“We’ve been working on a new defensive strategy,” Burton said. “We’ve been trying to change up between fast and slow pitching, and I finally got it. On Wednesday we’ll go in with our heads high and do our best.”

Back at bat, Lauren Carper snuck a bunt for a single and Reynolds also took a base. Jessica Huston was stopped with a pop out to third, but brought in one RBI. With Reynolds waiting on third, Gearhart smacked a home run over the left field wall to bring the Comets to a 5-1 lead.

“I was just trying to make contact, nit hit a home run,” Gearhart said. “We’re all hitting better and we played a lot better defensively tonight, so we just need to keep the adrenalin pumping for Wednesday.”

Burton’s arm was showing signs of tiring as she walked one and let a double slip past, but she got her second wind with her ninth strikeout of the game. Orcutt stopped a fly and threw to home to stop the RBI. When Morgan’s batter flipped the 3/2 pitch back to Burton, she threw her out at first. As the Comets returned to bat, Morgan managed three up and three down, but WC’s defense rallied. Carper caught a line drive and Buckler outran a batter for the second out. Orcutt caught a fly to end the game.

“I’m just tickled to death with this win and I can’t wait to take another shot at East Carter,” Coach Greg Reynolds said.

“I feel pretty confident. Last time we got beat, but we played well. As long as we show up to play like we did tonight, we’ll do good.”

        

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