Ponytails edge AndalusiaBy Kevin Taylor
Published 12:00 am Saturday, June 25, 2005
LUVERNE - For all of the mental errors that Sam Wilson's Greenville Ponytail All-Stars committed on Thursday, a double play couldn't have come at a better time.
Greenville was holding onto a 7-4 lead in the top of the sixth inning when Andalusia attempted a final-inning comeback during sub-district play here at E.L. Turner Park.
Andalusia scored one run and then loaded the bases with no out. Andalusia then hit into a double play that allowed one run to score, but it was a key out to help lead Greenville to a 7-6 win.
"That was a big double play," Wilson said. "We struggled defensively in some spots during the game, but that double play was huge."
Katie Wilson scored what was the game-winning run in the fifth inning on a fielder's choice by Murphy Middleton to cap a three-run frame.
Sarah Roper and Anne Blake Langford scored the first two on a two-RBI single by Wilson.
"They just started to hit the ball," Sam Wilson said explaining Greenville's five combined runs in the fourth and fifth innings.
Greenville
advanced to face Elba in the second round late Friday night, while Andalusia fell into the loser's bracket.
Elba advanced to the second round of the tournament by crushing Brantley 22-5. Luverne moved on to the next round after crushing Highland Home, 15-5. Luverne played Covington County late Friday for the right to advance to the tournament semifinals.
Greenville jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Wilson knocked in Abby Blackmon with a RBI triple.
Andalusia later tied the game by scoring a run in the second inning, and Greenville retook the lead by scoring a run in the second inning on an error. Cortnee Meyers was hit by a pitch and later rounded the bases to put Greenville ahead, 2-1.
The mental errors then came back to hit Greenville hard. Andalusia scored three runs in the fourth to take a 4-2 lead. But Greenville returned the favor by scoring two more runs in the frame to tie the game.
Erin Taylor hit a double and Marvia Scott walked. Murphy Middleton then hammered a two-RBI triple to score Scott and Middleton.
"We hit the ball and quit making mental errors," Wilson said. "We earned all of our runs (Thursday). I can't quite say the same for Andalusia."