MONTGOMERY – Nearly everything seemed to be working against the Munford Lady Lions on Thursday at Lagoon Park.Even the weather.
After struggling most of Thursday morning against West Blocton’s Valerie Cook, the Lady Lions earned a pair of base runners with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning in Thursday’s first-round game in the AHSAA 3A softball tournament.
With rain intensifying, Munford’s TaShayla Turner worked the count to 2-0, before game officials sent everyone off the field. It was the second rain delay of the game … and it turned out to be fatal to Munford’s comeback hopes.
The game – like every other Thursday-morning game, save one – was called complete, with West Blocton winning 8-0 in five innings.
Immediately following the announcement, MHS head coach Anne Hopkins could only shrug her shoulders.
“I understand that the rule is that the game is complete now,” she said. “It’s frustrating because I think, finally, our bats were moving and we were finally getting base runners and had an opportunity to come back.
“It’s frustrating, but we’re gonna just take the hand we were dealt and move from here. We’re not done, we’re not out, so that’s good.”
The loss means Munford (25-15) will play in the elimination bracket today against Straughn (38-12), a 7-0 loser to Elkmont. The game, scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Thursday, will instead be played today at 4 p.m.
Hopkins’ squad fell behind early on Thursday, surrendering four runs in the first two innings. The biggest onslaught came in the bottom of the second, as Katie Hall, Kristin Evans and Cook rapped out three consecutive hits to score two runs and give the Lady Tigers (19-16) a 4-0 lead.
“We’re young, and I think that had a lot to do with it (the first two innings),” said Hopkins. “Everybody was really nervous.
“Once everybody realized, ‘Hey, we can hit, everything is still the same,’ they picked it up.”
It took a while. Cook set down the first 14 Lady Lions she faced on Thursday, before catcher Amanda Crow and first baseman Caitlin Coker delivered consecutive base hits in the bottom of the fifth inning. Cook retired Tiffany Kelley to end the inning.
Rain played a prominent role in the Lady Tigers’ biggest inning of the day. With rain falling heavily in the top of the fourth, Munford starter Celeste Goodwin hit two batters, with an error sandwiched in between, to load the bases with no outs. A bases-loaded walk by Lena Kornegay made the score 5-0, and Hall drew a 3-0 count before game officials sent participants off the field the first time.
Thirty-four minutes later, the two sides returned, and West Blocton scored three more runs on only one hit before the 10th batter of the inning made the final out.
Goodwin finished with eight runs on seven hits, four walks, a strikeout and two hit batters. Cook surrendered only two hits in the victory, with a walk and two hit batters.
She also finished with three RBIs, a double and a bases-loaded walk.
Hopkins conceded the last 36 hours have been difficult for both her and the team.
“It’s been really exciting, still,” she said.
“We’re really glad to be here; it’s a big accomplishment.
“And the Munford community has been wonderful – it was amazing seeing all the people out there yesterday. We’re just excited.”
First pitch today is scheduled for 4 p.m.
With a win, Munford will play again against the loser of the Elkmont-West Blocton game on Saturday at 9 a.m.
