By By Marty Stamper / staff writer
September 22, 2004
The Clarkdale Lady Bulldogs tightened the screws on their Division 5-2A opponents with a 14-4 run-rule victory over Philadelphia Tuesday night at Clarkdale.
Third-ranked Clarkdale improved to 5-0 in 5-2A and 18-3 overall with the five-inning win. Philadelphia dropped to 3-2 and 11-7.
Clarkdale scored three runs in the third inning and five in both the fourth and fifth frames.
"We're in the driver's seat now," Clarkdale head coach Rick Roberson said. "We've got a game here with Lake and that will really put us in the driver's seat. Then we've got Enterprise and they've got one loss and have to play Philly again.
"This is exactly where we want to be. We have it in our own hands tonight with a big crowd and a beautiful night and they took care of business."
Ashley Bye went 3-for-3 with two doubles and three RBIs for Clarkdale. Alyssa Bye was 3-for-4 with a double and scored three runs. Kimbo Seale was 2-for-4 and scored three runs. Sabrina Woodall was 2-for-4 with four RBIs.
Winning pitcher Whitney Drachenberg (18-3) was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Savannah Satcher was 2-for-3, Lauren Robinson was 1-for-3 with a double, Chassidy Roberts was 1-for-3 with a triple, and Cayla Coleman was 2-for-2 with two RBIs.
The Lady Bulldogs finished with 18 hits as they swung the bats well for the second straight game.
"The last couple of games we have," Roberson said. "The key was the bottom of the order. Any time you go into a big game, the bottom of the order is always the key and the bottom of the order really came through tonight.
"Robinson started two innings and Roberts right behind her and Coleman right behind her. We get those three on and then we've got the big guns at the top and it's hard to stop that.
"Those little girls at the bottom made a big statement."
Coleman has gone 4-for-4 since cracking the starting lineup at shortstop Saturday against West Lauderdale.
"We made a little adjustment and moved her to short and Alyssa to third for defense," Roberson said. "The hitting is a plus. Basically, we told (Coleman) to go in and play defense and if she gets a hit, fine.
"She's 2-for-2 against West and 2-for-2 tonight with a sac fly, so I hope nobody wakes her up."
Philadelphia got a good game from shortstop Shenique Brass, who went 3-for-3 with two home runs. She led off the top of the fourth with a solo homer to left field and added a two-run blast over the wall in left-center in the fifth. Leadoff batter Candace Griffin was 2-for-3 with a pair of singles. The Lady Tornadoes had nine hits.
"I'm sure we'll see them again like we did last year," Roberson said of the upcoming playoffs. "They've got a real fine team. We were fortunate that we hit up and down the lineup."