Rick Patrick: Greene Publishing, Inc.
The 2018 softball season is underway for the Madison County High School Cowgirls. After a couple of pre-season games against Chiles High School (a 4-4 tie) and Taylor County High School (a 10-4 win), the season got underway with a contest against the Lady Lions of Leon High School, in Tallahassee, on Tuesday, Feb. 13. The Cowgirls came back home with the first official win of the season after defeating the Lady Lions, 9-2.
After a scoreless first inning, the Cowgirls went ahead with a two-run second inning. The two teams traded two runs in the third inning. Then, the Cowgirls scored four runs in the fifth inning before adding one more insurance run in the sixth.
Halie Wetherington went three-for-three at the plate with three RBIs. Wetherington also stole three bases. Kaylee Groover and Amber Reed both went two-for-three with one RBI apiece. Hope Underhill went two for five with one RBI. Jocelyn Davis had an RBI for the Cowgirls on a sacrifice fly.
The winning pitcher for the Cowgirls was Reese Rutherford. Rutherford pitched seven innings; giving up three hits, two earned runs, striking out eight.
On Friday, Feb. 16, the Cowgirls again traveled to Tallahassee, this time to face the Lady Seminoles of Florida High School. The Cowgirls were down one run at the end of the first inning, but tied the score at two in the second. Then the Cowgirls pulled ahead with a three-run third inning. The Cowgirls solidified the win by adding runs in the fifth and sixth innings.
Abi Annett had a near perfect game at the plate, going four-for-four, with three RBIs. Laila Dickey went two-for-two at the plate, with one RBI. Wetherington had three hits for her four trips at bat, scoring one RBI. Groover was one-for-three at the plate with one RBI.
Rutherford returned to the mound for the Cowgirls, giving up six hits and two earned runs, while striking out 11.
Your next chance to see the Cowgirls in action at home will be on Thursday, Feb. 22, against the Lady Buccaneers of Branford High School. The first pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.