The Quad outlasts Post 15 Patriots
Quad catcher, Olivia Martin, catches the ball as Patriot batter, Lillie Ivey, looks on to see the umpire’s call. The Quad was victorious in both games. Olivia is a former Hartsville High School player and currently plays for Winthrop University. PHOTO BY PHYLLIS CAPLES
Quad pitcher, Trinity Davis, started off the game on Monday, June 26th against the Patriots in Sumter. The Quad won the first game 5-2 and the second game 2-0. Trinity Davis is a former Hartsville High School softball player and will play for University of Rio Grande in Ohio this coming season. PHOTO BY PHYLLIS CAPLES
By Don Gearhart
For much of the night, the average spectator would not have realized that The Quad was playing a talented, but much younger group of players from Post 15 Lady Patriots at Patriots Park in Sumter.
Alyssa Poston, led off the top of the first with a double to left. Tatum Weaver promptly laid down a sacrifice bunt to move her to third. Dakota Melancon delivered a two-out base hit to drive home the first run of the game.
Meliah Wright duplicated the lead off position in the bottom of the first by doubling to right field. When Laniya Rouse’s grounder for a base hit put runners on the corners, it appeared the Lady Patriots were set for a big inning. An infield pop-up could not advance the runners. Olivia Kirkman then hit a grounder to third and Melancon made a perfect throw to home to nail Wright at the plate for the second out. Samantha Kirkhart hit a liner that was snared by Savannah Parker to retire the side without a run.
Whitney Turner led off The Quad second inning with an attempted bunt hit and was safe at first on a throwing error that allowed her to end up at third base. Jaysha MCullough’s bunt attempt was booted as Turner scampered home for a 2-0 lead for The Quad. After stealing second base, McCullough scored when Poston’s hot grounder ended in an error and the score changed to 3-0.
The Lady Patriots worked a little two-out magic of their own in the bottom of the inning. McKayla Mouradjian and Corey Grimsley had back-to-back singles. Wright’s single to center would have loaded the bases but the throw to third was misplayed allowing two runs to score.
In the third, The Quad wasted a base hit by Parker. Zaire Ransom led off with a hit for the Lady Patriots but was forced out at second on a fielder’s choice. The Quad made a pitching change electing to bring their ace, Poston, to the circle in relief of Trinity Davis. Poston proceeded to strike out the next two batters.
With one out in the fourth, Turner came up with a single to left and McCullough’s sacrifice bunt went for a base hit and put runners on the corners for Poston. She hit into a fielder’s choice that brought in a run but McCullough got caught trying to reach third to end the threat. Poston retired the side in order to take the 4-2 lead into the final inning.
The Quad added an insurance run in the final inning when Weaver’s gounder to short was booted. Olivia Martin delivered a base hit and Melancon laid down a sacrifice bunt to put runners on second and third. Parker’s sacrifice fly brought home the fifth run of the game for The Quad. After striking out the first two batters in the bottom of the fifth, Ransom got aboard on an error However, Poston struck out the next batter to secure the win. Poston struck out six of the nine batters she faced..
Game 2
The nightcap was a low-scoring affair. Each team was only able to get one baserunner aboard through two innings. In the third inning, The Quad seemed to have adjusted to a slower pitcher. Whitney Turner led off with a double and Jaysha McCullough walked. With two outs, Olivia Martin walked to load the bases and Dakota Melancon drove in the only two runs of the game with a base hit. Meliah Wright doubled with two outs in the bottom of the third but was left stranded.
The Quad only managed one baserunner in the final two frames, a bunt single by Turner. The Lady Patriots were stymied as Poston fanned the next six batters giving her ten for the game. Combined, the two teams only managed a total of five hits in the game. Turner, with two hits, was the only player with more than one safety.