Capital performance
By Staff
Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
Danville's Lady Hawks fought back from a 0-1 deficit to take the final two games in a three-game series over Glencoe's Lady Yellow Jackets and earn a berth in the 3A state softball championship finals in Montgomery. They are scheduled to play Alabama Christian in a first round game at 9 a.m. today.
The Lady Hawks were victims of a 3-0 shutout in the first game as they were limited to five hits by Glencoe's Nicole Teal, a righthanded junior pitcher who entered the series with over 25 victories. She struck out 10 and walked none in recording the shutout.
Glencoe grabbed the lead in the top of the fifth inning on a two-out single by Jennifer Walker. Two runs were added in the top of the sixth on a two-out single by Brooke Sweatt.
In addition to Sweatt, Jakea Griffith, Katie Quinn, Teal, Jennifer Walker and Sallie Relford each singled for Glencoe.
Charleston Wilson paced the Lady Hawks with a triple. Mallory George, Erin Gillott and Kassie Coward each singled.
The Lady Hawks came out smoking in the second game and never looked back. They banged out 16 hits while allowing their opponent only five. They tallied five runs in the top of the first, one in the second and fifth, two in the fourth and three in the sixth. Glencoe got its only run in the bottom of the fifth.
Wilson, Kristen Thompson, and Britany Evans paced the Lady Hawks in hitting with three singles each. Nicole Linderman and Haley Hensley each added a pair of singles, Kristen Sparkman had a double and George, Brittany Atkins and Kassie Cowart each singled.
Griffith led Glencoe at the plate with a double and single, Quinn added a pair of singles and Kaci Blackstone singled.
The third game was a battle of pitching and defense from start to finish.
The Lady Hawks scored first on a balk by pitcher Teal in the bottom of the third inning. It came after Hensley reached first on a fielding error, Wilson drew a walk and Hensley advanced to third on a fly ball out to center. With Thompson at bat the umpire called a balk and awarded Hensley home plate.
The Lady Yellow Jackets responded by scoring a run in the tot of the fourth to tie the score at 1-1. Teal led off with a triple and scored on Alicia Bailey's grounder to second base.
Danville's next scoring threat came in the bottom of the sixth.
