Slow start, quick ending

March 26, 2008 01:20 pm

— By Les Dixon / Sports Editor
Down 1-0 in the second inning against district rival Williamsburg, Corbin needed something to happen fast.
With the Lady Yellow Jackets threatening to score again with runners on first and second, the Lady Redhounds were in danger of falling behind too many runs.
Corbin received a much-needed confidence boost thanks to a timely throw by centerfielder Allison Woolums along with a heads up play by catcher Alli Burton after a single to center by Williamsburg’s Erin Sears.
Woolums gunned down the runner at home plate and Burton threw out the runner at third that ended the scoring threat.
The play also opened the floodgates for the Lady Redhounds, as Corbin used a two-run third inning along with a four-run fourth to propel themselves past the Lady Yellow Jackets, 7-1.
“That was a great play,” Corbin coach Chris Hart said. “That was a great play by three individuals. Allison made a terrific throw and Alli Burton made a heads up play to finish the double play.
“This is a win and it’s a good win,” he added. “Williamsburg has a great pitcher and it just took us some time to catch up with her speed.”
Williamsburg coach Andrea Ellis admitted the double play Corbin turned in the second inning changed the momentum of the game.
“Oh yeah, it changed the momentum,” she said. “We just had way too many base running errors. We could have went ahead 2-0, but instead, they doubled us up and grabbed the momentum.
“We just couldn’t come back from that,” she added. “We left 11 runners on base and that hurt us, too. We can hit very good, but we just had a mental block after the second inning. We just broke down. It’s not about the talent because we are a talented team.”
It didn’t take long for the Lady Redhounds to take control of the game, thanks to the hitting of Burton.
She delivered a two-run single to give Corbin a 2-1 edge in the third inning, and her run-scoring single in the fifth inning ignited a four-run rally.
Burton finished the game going 3-for-4 with three RBIs and one run scored.
“Alli hit the ball extremely well tonight,” Hart said. “Her hitting really gave us a spark.”
Kendra Igo delivered a two-run single in the fifth inning, while Mikkah Rogers drove in a run with a double.
Rogers finished the game going 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored.
The freshmen duo of Sarah Hill and Morgan Brock limited Williamsburg to only one run and six hits during the win.
Hill improved to 1-0 on the season, while tossing four innings. She allowed four hits and struck out seven batters.
“I thought both of our pitchers did great tonight,” Hart said. “Sarah settled down and battled, while Morgan did what she does best and placed the ball great.
“It’s just good to get a district win early,” he added. “Getting the win gives us a leg up when we play Whitley County next week.”
Cecily Sears took the loss on the mound, allowing seven runs and nine hits. She finished the game with five strikeouts.
“I thought we played OK,” Ellis said. “We just had a mental breakdown and had too many errors.”
Corbin will be back in action Thursday at home against Pulaski Southwestern, while Williamsburg travels to 50th District foe South Laurel.

Corbin 7, Williamsburg 1
Williamsburg 100 000 0 1 6 3
Corbin 002 140 x 7 9 0
WP - Hill. LP - Sears.

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