Lady Rebels see opener slip away in seventh inning

By DONN ADAMSON
Daily Journal Sports Editor

PARK HILLS — The Central Lady Rebels softball team took one on the chin Monday as they saw a 2-0 lead evaporate in the top of the last inning, and the visiting Crystal City Lady Hornets were able to seize a 3-2 win of the two teams’ season opener.

Central pitcher Melanee Cunningham and Crystal City’s Alex Perry   for the most part dominated their opponent’s lineup, combining for 20 strikeouts between them.

In the first three innings only the Lady Hornets had a real opportunity to score. It came in the top of the third. A couple of misplayed balls by the Lady Rebels set up runners on first and second with only one out, and a long hard-hit ball into right centerfield looked to have two to three runs written all over it.

Not to centerfielder Maggie Cunningham who tracked down the potential home run ball and hauled it in for the second out and for her first of two outstanding catches in the game. Neither runner advanced and an infield single loaded the bases, but a one-bouncer back to the pitcher ended the threat.

After Melanee Cunningham struck pout the side in the fourth, the Lady Rebels mounted their challenge to be the opening day victors. With two outs already registered, Addie Scoggin reached on a single up the middle, and immediately stole second base.

Scoggin’s effort was rewarded on  a teammate’s single to right field which allowed her to score.

It looked like Central was getting all the breaks in the first innings and it was really true in the fourth. Melanee Cunningham made her own trouble by walking two batters with one out and throwing three wild pitches which put Lindsey Price at third and Perry at second. Perry would be called out when she started up the line on the pitch but was nailed with a line drive by Gina Melton.

Melton was granted first base with a single, but she would be out at second on the very next play with second baseman Addie Scoggin snagging a hot grounder and running to the bag for the force out and the end of Cunningham’s jam.

Maggie Cunningham beat out a grounder to short for her first of two infield singles to lead off Central’s half of the fourth. Cunningham would steal second, but she did not need it, since Amber Kennedy drove a ball in the gap at right center for a triple to score Cunningham.  Perry struck out her 11th batter to end the threat.

The Lady Hornets were able to get their lead-off batter on base for the first time in the top of the sixth, but it would be short-lived. Trying to steal second on a 1-2 count, pinch-runner Spencer Portell became the second out of the next play as Central catcher Sarah Tripp gloved the strike three pitch from Cunningham and threw a strike of her own to shortstop Ali Rhodes, who applied the tag to complete the double play.

Central was able to load the bases in the bottom of the sixth but they could not capitalize on it as a comebacker to Perry closed out the frame.

Danyelle Portell led off the seventh with a walk and reached third on a single by Ashley Radin. Cunningham was able to get the next two batters to fly out, the second a smash that had home run written all over it as it sailed into left center, but Maggie Cunningham would bail out her sister with a running catch for the second out. Portell tagged up and scored on the catch.

The Rebels opened the door for Crystal City on the next play as a two-out fly ball to the outfield went through the webbing of the outfielder’s glove and allowed Radin to score the tying run all the way from first base.  Hannah Hicks made the Lady Rebels pay for their mistake as she hit a gapper for a double to score the runner from second with the go-ahead run.

Central had a last chance in the bottom of the seventh with a lead-off double by Ashley Coplin, but after Kennedy walked to be the potential winning run, Perry struck out the next two batters and got a harmless ground ball to second to end the game.

Crystal City  000 000 3 - 3  5  1

Central  000 110 0 - 2  8  3

Pitching: WP- Perry 7i 8h 11k 2bb, LP- Cunningham 7i 3r (0 er) 5h 9k 5bb.

Hitting: Crystal City - Hicks 2-4, Radin 1-3, Perry 1-3, Melton 1-4. 2b- Hicks.

Central - Kennedy 2-3, Maggie Cunningham 2-3, St. Gemme 1-3, Friendl 1-4, Scoggin 1-4, Coplin 1-4. 3b- Kennedy, 2b- Coplin.