Ashe County gets 3-2 win in 10 innings over Lady Colts

By Jim Lisk, Editor

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 May 14, 2008 09:46 am

— For the second straight game, West Stanly went 10 innings before a winner was decided.
And unfortunately for the Lady Colts, Monday night’s 2A Playoff opener had the same result as the RRC Tournament final - a one-run loss.
Ashe County scored a run on a passed ball in the 10th inning to take a 3-2 lead.
In the bottom of the 10th, West got a bloop double from Leigh Parrish to open the inning. After Brittany Beatty struck out swinging, Randi Harris grounded out to third base with Parrish advancing to third on the throw. But clean-up hitter Deanna Hulschult, who had walked three times earlier, went down swinging for the final out and Ashe County had a 3-2 win.
Ashe took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on back-to-back doubles with two outs off West starter, Anisha Smith, who allowed five hits, walked just one and fanned six in six innings pitched.
With two outs in the third inning, the Lady Colts took a 2-1 lead. Randi Harris hit a sharp grounder back through the middle for West’s first hit of the game. Then, Hulshult and Emily Huneycutt both walked to load the bases. On a 1-2 pitch, catcher Lindsey Coble ripped a shot through the left side to score pair.
Ashe County tied the game in the fifth inning as Smith surrendered her only walk to the inning’s first hitter. A wild pitch and a one-out, bloop single just inside the right field foul line produced the game-tying run.
Ashe County threatened to take a lead in the seventh, but Emily Huneycutt relieved Smith and got out of the jam with a pair of strike outs and a ground out to leave runners on the corners.
In the West eighth inning, Huneycutt lined a two-out single to center field, stole second and moved to third when the catcher’s throw sailed into center field. But this time, Coble struck out.
In the ninth, an infield single and a walk put two runners on base for Ashe County, but again Huneycutt left the two on base with a pair of strike outs.
In the 10th, Ashe’s lead-off leader singled to center and Huneycutt walked the next batter. After a force out at third base, Huneycutt wild pitch allowed the two runners to advance. Then, came the passed ball and the winning run scored.