Rick Patrick
rick@greenepublishing.com
The Madison County High School (MCHS) Cowgirls varsity softball team recently squared off with some familiar foes. Anytime two rivals face off, the results can be unpredictable and often exciting.
On Thursday, March 23, the Cowgirls hosted the Lady Bulldogs of Taylor County High School. The game went into extra innings as the Lady Bulldogs edged the Cowgirls, 4-3. The contest was scoreless through the first three innings until the Cowgirls took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Then, in the top half of the sixth inning, the Lady Bulldogs tied the score at two runs apiece. A scoreless seventh inning took the game into extra innings. The Lady Bulldogs scored two runs in the top half of the eighth inning. With their backs to the wall, the Cowgirls attempted to mount a rally, but fell short after scoring one run in the bottom half of the eighth inning.
Gracie Carver was effective at the plate, going two-for-four, with one RBI. Tsadi Irvine and Bethni Stalnaker each had a single RBI on sacrifice plays.
Jose Driggers spent the entire evening in the circle for the Cowgirls, giving up seven hits, three earned runs, five walks and striking out 10.
Then, on Monday, March 27, the Cowgirls traveled to Jasper to take on the Hamilton County High School Lady Trojans. After falling behind 5-1 in the first inning, the Cowgirls managed to tie the score at 5-5 in the top of the third inning. Then, with the bases loaded and two outs, Logan Bass doubled on a hard-hit ground ball that made its way all the way into left field, bringing in three runs. From that point, the Cowgirl bats heated up and the Cowgirls put up six more unanswered runs before the game was called after five innings, with the Cowgirls holding a 14-5 lead.
Irvine had two hits in three at-bats, with one RBI. Logan Bass also went two-for-three, with three RBIs. Alden Bass had one hit in her lone at-bat to bring in two runs. Carver went two-for-three, with one RBI. Stalnaker had a hot bat during the contest, chalking up three hits in four trips to the dish.
Driggers continued to earn her keep in the pitcher's circle, giving up six hits, three earned runs and five walks, while striking out eight.
The Cowgirls will be back on Cowgirl Field on Monday, April 3, to take on the Chiles High School Lady Timberwolves. The junior varsity game will begin at 5 p.m., followed by the varsity contest at 7 p.m.