Valdosta Wildcats Softball
2009 Game Summaries
Lady ’Cats fall to Tift on Senior Night
Publication Date: September 30, 2009The Valdosta Daily Times
VALDOSTA - Tift County's softball team put a damper on Valdosta High's Senior Night Tuesday, winning 10-0 in five innings.
Tift crossed the plate 10 times, pounded out eight hits and pitcher Kelsey Jones threw a one-hitter.
The Lady Devils got on the board with an unearned run in the top of the second, then pulled away with three runs in the third inning and five more runs in the fourth.
In the second, Tift's Jessie Brooks led off with a single, stole second, went to third on J.B. Dunn's single and scored on an error.
In the third, Jones ripped an RBI double that went to the fence in center field, scoring Brittany Fore, who had walked to lead off the inning. One out later, Karli Smith doubled to center, scoring another run. Dunn's fielder's choice scored Smith with the third run of the inning, and made it 4-0.
The Lady Devils then exploded for five runs in the fourth. Tift loaded the bases on an error, a walk and a single. Brooks' bases-loaded walk scored one run, then Smith's single (and an error on the play) scored two more, making it 7-0. An RBI double by Whitney Woodall and an RBI single by Dunn increased Tift's lead to 9-0. Tift added its final run in the top of the fifth.
That was plenty of support for Jones, who took a perfect game into the fourth inning. Amanda Smith broke up her perfect game with a single in the top of the fourth. Unfortunately for the Lady Wildcats, that was the only hit they would get. Rosie Yelito was the only other VHS hitter to get on base, reaching on an error in the fifth.
It was the final home game for Valdosta's four seniors - first baseman/pitcher Amanda Smith, shortstop Haley Emmons, outfielder Kelly Mullis and center fielder Miranda Walker. The four seniors were honored in a ceremony before the game. Smith, Emmons and Walker are four-year varsity players, while Mullis has spent three years with the Lady Wildcats.
"I couldn't have asked for four better seniors," Valdosta head coach Adam Haire said. "They've stepped up, been leaders all year, and have (taught) a lot of the younger girls things, both on the field and character-wise.
"Haley Emmons played right field last year, and she had to come in and be our starting shortstop. She's worked as hard as anyone in practice. Miranda's done a pretty good job for us; she's found her way on base and made some good plays out there. Kelly Mullis didn't play last year, but came back and has earned a starting spot and done a good job.
And I can't say enough about Amanda Smith. She's pitched great (since an injury to teammate Bridgette Walker forced Smith to become the team's primary pitcher). She's gotten routine ground balls and fly balls and a couple of strikeouts. And she's one of the best first basemen in the region. All of these girls have stepped up for us."
Vikettes rout crosstown rivals, 10-0
Publication Date: September 28, 2009The Valdosta Daily Times
VALDOSTA - Lowndes High's softball team dominated its crosstown rivals Tuesday night, routing Valdosta High 10-0 in five innings.
The Vikettes pounded out eight hits, scored 10 runs and took advantage of seven Valdosta errors on Tuesday. Lowndes pitcher Ashley Chapman was dominant in the circle, and her teammates played flawless defense behind her.
In other words, Lowndes excelled in all phases of the game.
"We played well. I'm proud of them," Lowndes head coach Alex Gray said.
Chapman was especially good. The sophomore All-Region pitcher was close to unhittable on Tuesday, striking out 12 batters in five innings and allowing just two singles. Chapman struck out the side in the second and fourth innings, and struck out two batters in each of the other three innings.
"She did a great job tonight. She's a good pitcher," Gray said. "Our pitchers do so well. She and Bug (Kailyn McCoy) have really been dominating so far."
Lowndes ' offensive production was spread throughout the lineup. Every starter reached base at least once, and eight of them scored at least one run. Senior first baseman Lauren Burns led the way at the plate for the Vikettes, going 3-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Lowndes took the lead with a run in the bottom of the first. Leading off the game, Allison Coulter lined the ball past the third baseman and into left field. Coulter tried to stretch the hit into a double, and slid in just ahead of the tag. Brittany Corbitt bunted Coulter over to third. McCoy tripled to deep left field, and Coulter scored, giving the Vikettes a 1-0 lead.
Then in the top of the second, three Valdosta errors in a span of two batters enabled two Lowndes runs to score. Burns led off the inning with a seeing-eye single to right, was sacrificed to second and went to third on a passed ball. With two outs, Megan Rewis' ground ball was not fielded cleanly, enabling Burns to score. Then Coulter popped up twice - first to the third baseman in foul territory, then to the shortstop in fair territory - and both balls were dropped. Rewis, who had stolen second and third, scored on the second error, increasing Lowndes ' lead to 3-0.
Another error led to another Lowndes run in the top of the third. This time, Keri Tompkins reached on an error, beat the throw to second, went to third on a ground out and scored on Burns' infield single, making it 4-0.
Then the Vikettes exploded for six runs in the top of the fifth. McCoy reached on an error to start the inning. One out later, Brittany Britt hit a line drive that landed just inside the left field foul line and rolled into the corner. McCoy scored and Britt sped into third with a triple. Burns' bloop single scored Britt, making it 6-0. After Brooklyn Cauthen singled, Chapman's RBI single scored Burns. Then Rewis hit a fly ball that was dropped in left field, loading the bases. Cauthen raced home on a wild pitch, then Coulter walked to load the bases again. Corbitt grounded to short, but the throw home got by the catcher, and two more runs scored, giving the Vikettes a 10-0 lead.
"They were able to find another gear (in the fifth)," Gray said.
The game was called after the fifth inning, due to the mercy rule.
Against Lowndes , Valdosta knew it could not afford to make any mistakes, and the Lady "˜Cats made some costly mistakes on Tuesday. Eight of Lowndes ' runs were unearned.
"A lot of our runs were unearned. If they make their plays, it's a different game," Gray said. "Hats off to Bridgette (Walker, the Valdosta pitcher), she always pitches well against us."
Valdosta's biggest offensive threat came when it loaded the bases in the bottom of the first, but Chapman escaped with a strikeout.
Lowndes (11-7, 2-2 region) travels to Coffee today for another Region 1-AAAAA softball game, then hosts the Vikette Invitational this weekend at Freedom Park. Valdosta's next games will be in Lowndes ' tournament.
Lowndes defeats VHS, 6-0
Publication Date: September 2, 2009The Valdosta Daily Times
VALDOSTA -- Something about seeing their archrivals in the opposite dugout brought out the best in Lowndes High's softball team Tuesday night.
Lowndes blanked crosstown rival Valdosta High 6-0 Tuesday at the Morris-Coats Field of Dreams. Ashley Chapman pitched a one-hit shutout, and the Vikettes pounded out eight hits and crossed the plate six times in the win.
The victory improved Lowndes ' record to 5-5 this season.
"It's always fun to beat your crosstown rival. That's always good," Lowndes head coach Alex Gray said. "It was good for the girls ... I'm proud of them."
"We kind of came full circle tonight," Gray added. "We had the defense, had the offense, had the pitching. When we do that, we're good."
It took one pitch for Lowndes to grab the lead Tuesday. On the first pitch of the bottom of the first, Allison Coulter drilled a long fly ball that disappeared over the fence, right below the scoreboard in left center.
Lowndes added another run in the bottom of the fourth. Leading off the inning, Kaylin McCoy hit a line drive that went to the fence in center for a double. One out later, she went to third on a wild pitch. Then with two outs, Amanda Newham hit the ball to second. Newham, who also runs for Lowndes ' region champion track team, sprinted to first and beat the throw. McCoy scored, increasing the Vikettes' lead to 2-0.
A dominant pitcher can take a team a long way, and Chapman was pretty dominant for most of the game Tuesday. She took a no-hitter into the fifth inning, and did not allow a runner past first base until the sixth inning.
Then in the sixth, Chapman got in trouble. She hit Miranda Walker with a pitch, walked Bridgette Walker and, one out later, walked Amanda Smith to load the bases. But Chapman struck out the next two hitters to escape the jam.
"I'm super proud of my pitching. They always come strong every game," Gray said. "Chappy got through a rough point (in the sixth), and she worked through it. I'm proud of her for digging down deep and getting through it. She did a great job tonight."
Then in the bottom of the sixth, Lowndes broke the game open with four runs. Leading off the inning, McCoy stepped up to the plate and hit a long home run over the fence in right center field. After clearing the fence, the ball bounced once and hit the third base dugout at Lowndes ' baseball field.
Keri Tompkins followed McCoy's blast with a double off of the fence in left field. Brittany Britt singled up the middle, putting runners on the corners, then stole second. Then Newham beat out a bunt single, scoring Tompkins. Jodi Wisenbaker grounded out to short, but Britt came home to make it 5-0. Chapman reached on an error, and Newham crossed the plate with Lowndes ' fourth run of the inning, and sixth of the game.
"That (four-run sixth inning) was huge," Gray said.
That was more than enough run support for Chapman, who struck out 11 batters.
Lady Eagles knock off Lady Wildcats, 5-2
Author: Christian Malone
Publication Date: August 22, 2009 The Valdosta Daily Times
VALDOSTA - Northside completed a sweep of Winnersville softball teams Saturday afternoon, defeating Valdosta 5-2 at VHS.
The Lady Eagles scored four runs in the first three innings, then escaped a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the seventh to hold on for the win.
 "We made a couple of mistakes that cost us big. They got some big hits when they needed them," Valdosta head coach Adam Haire said.
Earlier Saturday, Northside had defeated Lowndes 5-3. Then the Lady Eagles, who hail from Warner Robins, traveled across town and defeated Valdosta.
Haire was disappointed to lose, but complimented his team on the way they battled Northside. The Lady Wildcats are young, with only three returning starters and just one player who is starting in the same position they were at last year.
"I never like to lose, but I like the (way) we're moving forward, offensively and defensively. I'm happy with the progression we've made," Haire said.
Northside got on the board quickly. Bethany Horne led off the game with a base on balls, and stole second. Taylor Campbell laid down a sacrifice bunt, but on the throw, the second baseman dropped the ball at first, and Horne raced home to score the first run.
The Lady Eagles expanded their lead with three runs in the top of the third inning. With one out, Campbell reached on an error and stole second, then Sarah Purvis walked. Miya Raymer then lined a shot to deep right field that rolled to the fence. Campbell and Purvis raced around the bases to score, and Raymer made it to third with a triple.
Raymer later scored on a wild pitch, giving the Lady Eagles a 4-0 lead.
The score remained 4-0 until the bottom of the sixth, when Valdosta rallied. Leading off the inning, Bridgette Walker ripped a double to deep left field. Sylvia Sadler followed with an infield single, putting runners on the corners with no outs. One out later, Rosie Yelito grounded to short, scoring Walker. Sadler tried to go to third on the play, and collided with the third baseman before the ball arrived. The throw bounced into the dugout, and Sadler was awarded home plate, cutting Northside's lead to 4-2.
The Lady Eagles came right back with a run in the top of the seventh. Campbell lined a one-out triple to deep left field, and Purvis followed with an RBI double to the fence in right center.
Valdosta refused to go quietly in the bottom of the seventh. Taylor Hauser walked to lead off the inning, then Stormm Phillips reached on an error. One out later, Walker reached on an error, loading the bases with one out.
Northside pitcher Brooke Red struck out Sadler for the second out. That brought Amanda Smith, arguably Valdosta's best hitter, to the plate. Smith, who already had two hits on Saturday, hit a low line shot, but it was right at Campbell, the Northside third baseman, who stepped on third base for the force out, ending the threat.
"Amanda has definitely been one of our top hitters. The pitch was outside, she took it away, (and Campbell) just made a good play. She hit it hard," Haire said.
Red was the winning pitcher, allowing six hits and one earned run in seven innings. She struck out nine. Walker went the distance for Valdosta, giving up six hits and one earned run, while striking out seven.
For Northside, Campbell had two hits and scored two runs. She and Smith were the only players with multiple hits.
Valdosta travels to Colquitt County on Tuesday.