Stories

Mustangs roll past Albemarle softball

Photo: Ryan Yemen

Monticello coach Beth Humphries knows her team is close to something. Before spring break, her team fell in a 1-run game to the Jefferson District’s top team in the standings, Orange County. After the break, the Mustangs were just one hit away from enforcing a mercy rule on Albemarle. The Patriots did not go quietly into the night and so while the 9-4 win over the cross-country rival was big, it was also a teaching moment.

 

“We were aggressive with at-bats and swung them well but I talked about it afterwards that we just need to learn how to finish,” Humphries said. “We’re still fairly young and we’re still figuring that out. I think we just need to stay focused for all seven innings. We’re getting there.”

 

While Emily Clifford drew one tapped ground ball to herself after another to pile up the put outs up until the seventh inning, Monitcello’s offense got rolling in the bottom of the second.

 

“She’s just a sophomore who’s learning and has figured out that when she stops balls up the middle it helps her a lot,” Humpries said. “She’s not getting rattled and that’s helping a lot too.”

 

The Mustangs got a leadoff solo home run from Makysha Brock to make it 1-0. Then the Mustangs loaded the bases with one out and scored three runs on errors and a wild pitch to go up 4-0. With two more runs tacked on in the fourth and four more in the fith, Monticello had a 9-0 advantage.

 

On the other side of things, Clifford gave up just four hits, struck out five and didn’t give up a run until the top of the seventh.

 

“Mainly it was my changeup and curve ball that was working,” Clifford said. “(This win) meant a lot, we needed a confidence booster and got it so we’re pretty happy.”

 

It was in the seventh that Albemarle’s offense finally found its feet to make things interesting after a pair of walks. After Sabrina Shisbey made it 9-1 on a sacrifice, Logan Freisen came up with an RBI single. Then Brooke McAllister had an RBI double. Khouri Tuner had an RBI single. However, Clifford closed the door after that.

 

For the Mustangs. Kirstena Lilley went 3-for-4 with and RBI and run scored. Brooke Crawford was 2-for-3 with two RBI. Brock was 1-for3 with her HR and had two runs scored. Monticello had nine hits one the night and earned six walks to just three strikeouts.

 

Comments

comments