MCHS tops Oconee, falls to NW Whitfield; to host Leadoff Classic this week
Madison County’s softball Raiders aren’t starting their season with any cupcakes.
No, they’re taking on some of the best competition in the state. The squad blasted defending Class AAA state champion Oconee County 13-1 Friday night to usher in the 2012 season, then dropped a hard-fought, extra-inning game to Northwest Whitfield in a rainy road game, 7-6, Monday night.
Now, Madison County turns its attention to its own 12-team invitational this week at the Madison County Recreation Department.
Raider coach Doug Kesler has assembled a collection of softball stalwarts to butt heads in early season action, Aug. 15-18.
“We’ve got a really strong field,” said Kesler, noting that seven of the 12 teams played in the state tournament last year.
Apart from the Raiders, other squads hitting the field in Madison County this week will be Athens Christian, North Oconee, Lumpkin County, Monroe Area, Habersham Central, Greenbrier, Walnut Grove, Franklin County, Oglethorpe County, Rockdale County and Morgan County.
The Raiders take the field Thursday at 4:30 p.m. versus Rockdale County, then face Morgan County at 8 p.m.
Here’s a recap of Madison County’s first two games:
VERSUS OCONEE COUNTY
Madison County’s Haley Gordon was a frequent visitor on the bases last Friday night as her 3-for-3 performance led the Lady Raiders over defending 8-AAA State Champion Oconee County 13-1.
All three of Gordon’s hits were bunt singles, two of which came in the second inning. Her teammates were successful in driving her home as Madison County pounded out 13 total hits in the contest. Ivie Drake and Jessica Allen each finished with two hits and three RBIs followed by a two-hit performance from Randee Bettis who added one RBI. Jorden Williams (one RBI), Bri Carr, Gabby Gillespie (two RBIs), and Dani Lukas (one RBI), all added a hit each. Gabby Gillespie and Bettis contributed to the pitching duties on the mound in the win.
Gillespie worked three innings allowing one run on four hits while striking out one and issuing one walk. Bettis entered the game in relief working the final inning allowing one hit while fanning one.
Coach Doug Kesler’s ladies jumped out on top early with a four-run first inning. Just to be on the safe side, the Lady Raiders added some insurance by pushing home seven runs in the second inning to extend the lead to 11-0. Haley Gordon drew a walk to open the first frame and ended up scoring Madison County’s first run of the season on a single by Ivie Drake. Drake later scored on a hit by Jorden Williams. One swing of senior Jessica Allen’s bat increased the Madison County lead to 4-0. Allen’s double to the gap in left center field drove home both Randee Bettis and Williams.
The Lady Raiders sent 13 batters to the plate in the home half of an explosive second inning. Drake delivered a single to drive home Kaylee Bates and Gordon extending the lead to 6-0. Bettis lined a single to center field to drive home Bri Carr and Allen drove home Drake with a single to left. Gillespie followed with a two-run single that scored both Bettis and Williams. Dani Lukas, who entered the game to pinch hit, delivered a single to left to score Allen from third base.
Oconee County managed to squeeze home its only run of the game in the top of the third inning after Molly White walked and later touched home on a double from Brianna Dickens. Madison County added the final touches to their first win of 2012 by adding two more runs to end the game in by the mercy rule in the bottom of the fourth. Kayla Argo opened the inning by drawing a walk. She later scored on a throwing error and Gordon, who reached on a bunt single, later scored on a wild pitch to end the game.
VERSUS NORTHWEST WHITFIELD
Madison County battled rain, an Ole-Miss bound pitcher and a long bus ride Monday, nearly pulling off a come-from-behind victory.
The squad fell short 7-6 in eight innings.
“We faced a good, stud pitcher and the girls battled back,” said Kesler. “We may see one or two pitchers in the same class as her. They (Northwest Whitfield) are a seasoned team with some girls playing high level travel ball.”
Kesler said he felt his team hit the ball well and played good defense Monday.
Madison County fell behind 2-0 in the third and trailed 3-1 after four, but the Raiders rallied for three runs in the top of the fifth, with Kayla Argo scoring on a wild pitch after reaching on a pinch-hit single. Gordon and Drake both reached on walks, and Gordon was driven home on a Bettis single, while Drake scored a moment later on a wild pitch.
Northwest Whitfield answered with three runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 6-4 lead. But Madison County knotted the score in the top of the seventh with two runs, one coming on an RBI double by Bettis that drove home Drake and a second run scored by pinch-runner Courtney Alexander, a freshman, who crossed the plate on a passed ball.
But the home squad scored a run in the bottom of the eighth to claim the victory.
Three Raiders took the mound Monday. Bettis started the game and went 3 and 2/3 innings, giving up five hits, hitting one batter and fanning three. Gabby Gillespie pitched just a third of an inning and left with a strained back. Sophomore Alexis Damron then pitched in relief, giving up four hits in three innings.
“She (Damron) threw well,” said Kesler. “It was her first time on the big stage and she responded well.”
Now, Madison County turns its attention to its own 12-team invitational this week at the Madison County Recreation Department.
Raider coach Doug Kesler has assembled a collection of softball stalwarts to butt heads in early season action, Aug. 15-18.
“We’ve got a really strong field,” said Kesler, noting that seven of the 12 teams played in the state tournament last year.
Apart from the Raiders, other squads hitting the field in Madison County this week will be Athens Christian, North Oconee, Lumpkin County, Monroe Area, Habersham Central, Greenbrier, Walnut Grove, Franklin County, Oglethorpe County, Rockdale County and Morgan County.
The Raiders take the field Thursday at 4:30 p.m. versus Rockdale County, then face Morgan County at 8 p.m.
Here’s a recap of Madison County’s first two games:
VERSUS OCONEE COUNTY
Madison County’s Haley Gordon was a frequent visitor on the bases last Friday night as her 3-for-3 performance led the Lady Raiders over defending 8-AAA State Champion Oconee County 13-1.
All three of Gordon’s hits were bunt singles, two of which came in the second inning. Her teammates were successful in driving her home as Madison County pounded out 13 total hits in the contest. Ivie Drake and Jessica Allen each finished with two hits and three RBIs followed by a two-hit performance from Randee Bettis who added one RBI. Jorden Williams (one RBI), Bri Carr, Gabby Gillespie (two RBIs), and Dani Lukas (one RBI), all added a hit each. Gabby Gillespie and Bettis contributed to the pitching duties on the mound in the win.
Gillespie worked three innings allowing one run on four hits while striking out one and issuing one walk. Bettis entered the game in relief working the final inning allowing one hit while fanning one.
Coach Doug Kesler’s ladies jumped out on top early with a four-run first inning. Just to be on the safe side, the Lady Raiders added some insurance by pushing home seven runs in the second inning to extend the lead to 11-0. Haley Gordon drew a walk to open the first frame and ended up scoring Madison County’s first run of the season on a single by Ivie Drake. Drake later scored on a hit by Jorden Williams. One swing of senior Jessica Allen’s bat increased the Madison County lead to 4-0. Allen’s double to the gap in left center field drove home both Randee Bettis and Williams.
The Lady Raiders sent 13 batters to the plate in the home half of an explosive second inning. Drake delivered a single to drive home Kaylee Bates and Gordon extending the lead to 6-0. Bettis lined a single to center field to drive home Bri Carr and Allen drove home Drake with a single to left. Gillespie followed with a two-run single that scored both Bettis and Williams. Dani Lukas, who entered the game to pinch hit, delivered a single to left to score Allen from third base.
Oconee County managed to squeeze home its only run of the game in the top of the third inning after Molly White walked and later touched home on a double from Brianna Dickens. Madison County added the final touches to their first win of 2012 by adding two more runs to end the game in by the mercy rule in the bottom of the fourth. Kayla Argo opened the inning by drawing a walk. She later scored on a throwing error and Gordon, who reached on a bunt single, later scored on a wild pitch to end the game.
VERSUS NORTHWEST WHITFIELD
Madison County battled rain, an Ole-Miss bound pitcher and a long bus ride Monday, nearly pulling off a come-from-behind victory.
The squad fell short 7-6 in eight innings.
“We faced a good, stud pitcher and the girls battled back,” said Kesler. “We may see one or two pitchers in the same class as her. They (Northwest Whitfield) are a seasoned team with some girls playing high level travel ball.”
Kesler said he felt his team hit the ball well and played good defense Monday.
Madison County fell behind 2-0 in the third and trailed 3-1 after four, but the Raiders rallied for three runs in the top of the fifth, with Kayla Argo scoring on a wild pitch after reaching on a pinch-hit single. Gordon and Drake both reached on walks, and Gordon was driven home on a Bettis single, while Drake scored a moment later on a wild pitch.
Northwest Whitfield answered with three runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 6-4 lead. But Madison County knotted the score in the top of the seventh with two runs, one coming on an RBI double by Bettis that drove home Drake and a second run scored by pinch-runner Courtney Alexander, a freshman, who crossed the plate on a passed ball.
But the home squad scored a run in the bottom of the eighth to claim the victory.
Three Raiders took the mound Monday. Bettis started the game and went 3 and 2/3 innings, giving up five hits, hitting one batter and fanning three. Gabby Gillespie pitched just a third of an inning and left with a strained back. Sophomore Alexis Damron then pitched in relief, giving up four hits in three innings.
“She (Damron) threw well,” said Kesler. “It was her first time on the big stage and she responded well.”
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