After a cold front blew through McMinnville Tuesday evening, pretty much cancelling everything in sight. One good thing besides the rain was the cold front cooler temperatures, even if only for a day.
Church League softball got back on track Thursday night and it was the ladies from Smartt First Baptist versus Covenant. There must be something about a frosty that makes them tick. It was overheard more than once, “working on a frosty.”
Whatever the case may be, Smartt First Baptist defeated Covenant by a final score of 18-10. Smartt First Baptist got off to a rocky start but by the time the third inning rolled around the offense was firing on all cylinders. It seemed all the Covenant defense could do at that point was watch.
In the top of the first inning Covenant started the inning off with an out. The young Taylor Swan reached first base on balls for her team.
Sallie Alexander was able to drive the ball over the infield and drop it in for a base hit. Tara Wood also dropped a single into the outfield for a second straight single, followed by a second out. Amber Hale and Hannah Griffin reached first base and it was enough to keep the runners on the move. With two on and two out the final out was made and two were left stranded but Covenant led 3-0.
In the bottom of the first Smartt First Baptist didn’t get off on the right foot. It might have been nerves but the ladies went three up, three down their first trip to the plate. And the score remained 3-0.
The top of the second started off for Covenant almost right where it left off the previous inning. Back to the top of the order brought the first out of the inning. Three consecutive singles from Swan, Alexander and Wood had the base runners on the move again. After the second out, it was Hale who drove in the final run of the inning just before the third out ended the Covenant inning with a 5-0 lead.
Smartt First Baptist also picked up right where it left off. For the second inning in a row the ladies were retired in order one, two, three.
In the top of the third inning is when the momentum shifted. A quick pair of back-to-back outs had Covenant on the ropes. Kelly Slaughter and Swan reached first and second base but were left on base after the third out was made. It was the first inning Covenant was held scoreless.
The bottom of the third started off with a lead-off out. Sydney Scott connected on a pitch and hit a line-drive shot through the infield for a base hit. Fronia Templeton also hit a shot into the outfield for the second base hit of the inning. Sandy Collins stepped in and smashed a shot over the defense into the gap that rolled and rolled. Collins touched all four bases for a three-run homerun. Covenant still held the lead at 5-3. Three straight singles by Lori Judkins, Tonya Swan and Chelsea Vaughn loaded the bases up for Smartt First Baptist. After the second out was made, Tracey Scott slapped a shot in between defenders for a double and the bases were cleared again. Smartt First Baptist claimed the lead 6-5. Out number three came immediately after the double.
In the top of the fourth Covenant was now down but not out. A pair of back-to-back singles by Wood and Gage Walker put two on base for Covenant. Hale stepped in and sent a ball into the gap in the outfield for a double and Covenant was back in the lead at 7-6. A single by Kelsie Smith came between the first and second outs. A solid hit through the infield by Slaughter scored Hale for an 8-6 lead just before out number three was made.
Smartt First Baptist was still rolling in the bottom of the fourth inning. Becky Clark started the inning off with a solid base hit. After the first out of the inning, Templeton reached first base on balls. Collins was next and she ripped a shot just over the glove of the infield for a base hit. Judkins went to the plate, blasting the ball over the defense; Judkins legged out a triple and cleared the bases. The score was tied at 8-8. The duo of Swan and Vaughn both singled and Judkins crossed the plate and reclaimed the lead at 9-8.
With two on and two outs, Scott crushed a pitch that sent the defense running to find the ball. Scott blasted a three-run homerun, making it a 12-8 lead. Carrie Hale doubled following the homerun and she was knocked around by a single from Clark. When the final out was made Smartt First Baptist led 14-8.
Covenant was up in the top of the fifth and the offense needed base hits. Alexander led off the inning with an extra base hit. She was able to advance all the way to third for a lead-off triple. Walker had a base hit in between two outs, and Alexander crossed the plate. Walker also crossed the plate before the end of the inning. Covenant scored its final two runs in the top of the fifth and Covenant trailed 14-10.
With a four-run lead, Smartt First Baptist continued to pound out hits. A walk by Templeton led off the bottom of the fifth. Collins dialed up and connected on a long-distance base hit for a triple. Swan singled and Rebecca Fults sent a ball through a hole in the infield for a base hit. Scott was able to hit a double into the gap and clear the bases just before the final out of the inning. When the dust settled Smartt First Baptist led 18-10.
Covenant could not put any offense together in the top of the sixth, its final inning of the game. It was a three up, three down inning. Smartt First Baptist defeated Covenant by a final score of 18-10.