By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
April 6, 2004
UNION It was hard to tell the winners from the losers following Union's 4-0 Region 6-1A/2A victory over Clarkdale on Monday night at Laird Park. Winning, on this night at least, was a relative term.
Union had to win by at least five runs to secure a playoff berth. Clarkdale could make the playoffs with a loss of four runs or less, but needed to win the game to add yet another region championship.
Clarkdale's four-run margin of defeat clinched a playoff berth, but will send the Lady Bulldogs on the road Saturday in the first round of the playoffs. Mize is the region champion. Union's season ends tonight against Newton County.
Lindsay Walker (11-4) threw a two-hit shutout for Union (13-7). She struck out three, walked six, and hit one batter.
Union left nine runners on base and had another thrown out at the plate in the first inning. The Lady Jackets left the bases loaded in the second and fifth innings.
Clarkdale dropped to 17-4.
Howard (13-3) got the loss. She struck out six, walked six, and hit one batter.
Union took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on a two-out throwing error by Howard that scored courtesy runner Casey Risher.
The Lady Jackets added two more runs in the fourth. Beth Crotwell reached on an error and scored on a double by Deann Cleveland. Morgan Breland plated Cleveland with an infield single.
Three walks, including one to Amechia Hickmon with the bases loaded, gave Union a 4-0 lead in the fifth. Howard got Loren Kennedy to ground out with the bases still loaded to end the rally.
Kennedy was the game's only multiple hitter as she had a pair of singles.
Clarkdale stranded nine runners in the game, leaving two on base in the second, third, fifth, and seventh frames.