Montgomery County and Botetourt County Advance in Day 2 Action at the Dixie Ponytails Tournament

By Chris Slusher Sunday, June 27 2010 09:12

Day 2 action at the 2010 Dixie Ponytails (11-12) Softball Tournament at Motor MIle Park saw Botetourt survive an elimination game and an 'instant classic' game played between Eastern Montgomery County and Montgomery County.

Game 3: Botetourt County 15, Radford City 9

The first game of the evening was an elmination game played between Radford and Botetourt. Radford would strike first in the top of the first inning scoring 2 runs thanks to hits from Sara Lester and Jamie Turner and an RBI triple by Hailey O'Brien. Botetourt was quick to answer in the bottom half as they would score 4 runs thanks to a double from Angel Meredith and singles from Miranda Stapleton, Sidney Williamson and Brenna Eubanks.

In the second Botetourt would break things open adding seven runs to move the magin to 11-2. To the credit of Radford they would not give up and began to chip away at the lead and get back into the game. O'Brien was the star at the plate picking up a second RBI on a double in the third. A single in the fourth by Emily Jenkins would lead to two more runs. Radford would also pick up three runs in the sixth thanks to consecative hits from Mallory Wood, Lovelette Sheppard and Connor Herdon.

Botetourt would also add to their lead in the late innings to keep Radford at arms length. Eubanks and Mikayla Oyler would pick up RBIs in the fifth. The final margin of the night was 15-9 in favor of Botetourt. The loss elminated Radford City from tournament play. Botetourt County survives to play again on Sunday afternoon at 2:00PM.

Game 4: Montgomery County 5, Eastern Montgomery County 4

The second game of the night was a thriller between two teams that know each other very well. East Mont would get on the board first in the bottom of the first as Mikayla Phoenix turned a lead off walk into a run when Hailey Ferguson picked up an RBI single. The game would stay 1-0 until the third when Montgomery would strike for three runs.

Andrea Tiller would lead off with a single, Katie Marshall would also single and Kylie Naughton would draw a walk to load the bases. With two outs on the board, Meghan Epperly would drive in 2 runs with a single. Paige Saville would add another single picking up an RBI to make the score 3-1 going to the bottom of the third. That lead wouldn't last long.

The bottom of the third saw East Mont strike right back. Kristine Hurst would draw a walk and Phoenix would add a single to get runners on the bases. Ferguson would again come up with an RBI single, her second of the night, followed by an RBI single off the bat of Scarlett Sisson. After the third the game was all squared away again, this time at 3-3.

After a scoreless top of the forth for Montgomery, Alyssa Sampson would single in the bottom of the forth for East Mont. She would work her way around the bases stealing second and third then scoring on a wild pitch to put East Mont ahead 4-3. A scoreless fifth inning for both teams would set up a dramatic sixth and final inning. And these two teams wouldn't disappoint.

Kayla Altizer would work a walk to lead things off for Montgomery in the top of the sixth. She would work her way around the bases to score to tie us up again at 4. Two outs later with no one on base, Saville would triple. The next batter was Epperly who would get her bat on the ball, East Mont sent the throw home to try and cut Saville down at the plate, a collition at the plate would follow. When the dust settled the ball had trickled out of the East Mont catcher's glove and Saville was safe to provide the go ahead run and make the score 5-4 Mongomery. East Mont pitcher Tayler Lewis would stike the next batter out to end the inning and send us to the bottom of the sixth. Lewis who pitched the enitre game for East Mont, pitched a gem of a game striking out 8 along the way.

In the bottom of the sixth, Marissa Rubas would draw a walk and make it two second base. Meghan Epperly who was now on the mound for Montgomery would get out of the inning and leave her stranded right there touching off a wild celebration in front of an oversized crowd at Motor Mile Park. Frustration on one side and excitement on the other, a truely tension filled ballgame, that was well played by both teams.

Montgomery County, now 2-0, advances to Monday night's championship game. Eastern Montgomery County (1-1) faces Boteourt County (1-1) in an elmination game on Sunday at 2:00PM. The winner will advance to Monday night's championship game.