Andalusia finishes 2nd in area tournament

Published 6:36 pm Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Andalusia claimed the runner-up spot at the Class 4A, Area 3 tournament Wednesday when the Lady Bulldogs fell to Thomasville, 2-1, in the championship game.

The Lady Bulldogs were in the winners’ bracket after defeating Clarke County, 8-4, in their first game of the tournament.

In the second game, Andalusia lost to Thomasville, 1-0, to drop to the losers’ bracket.

Then, Andalusia faced Clarke County for the second time and managed to squeeze a 4-3 win to face Thomasville in the championship game.

Andalusia coach Anthony Mikel said despite coming in second, the team played well.

“We played some good ball (Wednesday),” Mikel said. “We started out early a little flat this morning against Clarke County and then we came to life and played Thomasville in two great games. They are a very good team. We played hard and we’re excited about going to Gulf Shores (for the regional tournament).”

The Lady Bulldogs will play UMS-Wright on Friday at the Class 4A South Regional tournament in Gulf Shores at 1 p.m.

“We’ve just go to show up and play,” Mikel said. “We’re going to work on a little bit of bunting and defense (today) at practice and then we’ll go from there.”

Andalusia 8,

Clarke County 4

Andalusia scored six runs in the bottom of the third inning to win its first game of the day, 8-4.

After having already scored one run in the third, Andalusia’s Ellie Pollock hit a two-run double to score Hannah Burnette and Jessica Centner.

Then, Kristin Evans hit an RBI single to score Kenna Edmondson, Megan Pugh hit an RBI single to score Evans, and Paige Caraway hit an RBI single to score Jessica Park.

In the bottom of the fifth, Caraway hit another RBI single to score Evans before Park hit an RBI single to score Burnette.

Clarke County scored its final three runs in the seventh inning.

Thomasville 1,

Andalusia 0

Thomasville scored its winning run of the game in the sixth inning when Savannah Smith hit an RBI single to score JuQwesha Evans.

Smith also earned the win for Thomasville, pitching 7.0 innings, allowing two hits, zero walks and striking out nine.

Andalusia 4,

Clarke County 3

In the first inning, Caraway hit an RBI double to score Park to bring the score to 1-0.

Tied 1-1 in the fifth inning, Park scored on an RBI single from Edmondson and then Edmondson scored on an RBI single from Centner.

Earlier in the inning, Olivia Dixon scored on an RBI single from Edmondson.

Thomasville 2,

Andalusia 1

Amy Caroline Riley scored the only run in the game for the Lady Bulldogs (17-16) in the fifth inning on a passed ball.

Thomasville scored its two runs in the sixth inning.