“Coming from New York, this is my first state championship and I’m glad to be a part of it,” said Lukas. “I would like to thank the Madison County Little League for this great opportunity to play softball. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the support of my teammates and fans!”
Lukas and her teammates will pack their bags as the Madison County Senior League All-Stars punched their ticket to the Southeast Regional Softball Tournament beginning July 27, in Fort Myers, Florida.
Madison County swept last week’s state tournament closing the deal with a title championship win on Thursday 6-2 over District 8 champion Pioneer of Columbus. Lukas pitched all seven innings allowing two runs on four hits while striking out four. Lukas contributed at the plate by delivering a key two-run double in the sixth inning pushing Madison County out in front 5-2. Elizabeth Stoyle led Madison County with three hits followed by two from Brianna Morgan and one each from Tatum Harris, Taylor Garrison, Kayla Argo, and Lukas. On defense, Argo flashed some leather in the top of the first inning by turning a diving catch in the outfield into a double play to kill a Pioneer threat.
Madison County got the scoring started with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Kayla Argo opened the inning by drawing a leadoff walk. Two batters later, Argo touched home after Pioneer’s center fielder failed to handle a fly ball off the bat of Elizabeth Stoyle. Madison County threatened for more in the inning but ended up stranding two runners in scoring position.
The game turned into a pitcher’s duel until Pioneer tied the game in the top of the fourth inning. But just as the script was written by Madison County in their earlier games, the girls from Danielsville pulled ahead; again. Madison County got a single from Tatum Harris to open the fourth. Brianna Morgan then singled and KC Wade walked to load the bases with one out. Taylor Garrison then received a free pass to first with a walk forcing home Harris. Madison County had a chance to blow the game wide open in the same inning, but ended up stranding the bases loaded.
Lukas continued to keep the Pioneer batters off balance through the fifth frame. “My screwball and change-up were my two pitches that worked the best and I used them to get out of a couple of jams,” said Lukas.
Madison County extended their lead to 3-1 after posting a run in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs in the frame, Brianna Morgan drilled a single to left field driving home Kristen Crumley who reached on a fielder’s choice. Pioneer closed the margin to 3-2 in the top of the sixth inning, but the bottom fell out on the girls from Columbus as Madison County sealed the victory with three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Taylor Garrison singled to right and Kayla Argo reached on a bunt single setting up the two run single by the New Yorker, Dani Lukas. Elizabeth Stoyle capped off the scoring after reaching on a single and later touching home on a wild pitch.
Madison County finished the tournament outscoring their opponents 42-9. Elizabeth Stoyle and Dani Lukas led Madison County’s hitting attack totaling 7 hits each in the four tournament games followed by 6 hits from Brianna Morgan, and 5 from Kayla Argo. Madison County will open Southeastern Regional play on Saturday, July 28, versus North Carolina at 11:30 a.m.
