Demopolis softball splits Day 1

Published 8:05 pm Friday, May 7, 2010

TROY – The Lady Tigers rebounded from a 10-0 defeat to Beauregard earlier in the day to extend their season at least one more game when they downed Shelby County 5-2 in an elimination game Friday at the South Central Regional Tournament.

“We came out flat and I don’t think we were ready to play,” Demopolis head coach Joey Browder said of the Lady Tigers’ early stumble against Beauregard. “Despite playing as bad as they did in the first game, they came out and played their tails off in the second game.”

The Lady Tigers had an approximately two-hour break after the loss, during which time Browder said his squad opted to relax rather than reflect.

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“We dispersed for a few minutes. Then we got together and ate and all went down and watched Sweet Water win – rooted our county team on – had a little fun and played good ball,” Browder said.

The Lady Tigers scored in the first inning and then added three more to carry a 4-2 lead into the sixth. Shelby County finally broke through for a pair of runs in the sixth, but Demopolis picked up an insurance score for pitcher Madison Laduron in the bottom of the frame when they extended the advantage to 5-2.

The offensive output came after a lineup adjustment that moved Raylee Eubanks into the cleanup spot and Madison Bozeman up to the No. 2 slot, among other shifts.

“We juggled the lineup, tried to get a little more production early on and it paid off,” Browder said of the changes.

Samantha Walker went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk, a stolen base and a run scored out of the lead-off spot for the Lady Tigers. Bozeman was 1-for-4 with a stolen base and an RBI. Kristin Beach went 1-for-3 with a double and a run. Eubanks was 1-for-2 with a double, a walk, a run and a stolen base. She also doubled for the Lady Tigers’ only hit in the first game of the day. Laduron went 1-for-3 with two RBIs at the plate while scattering six hits from the pitcher’s circle. Carly Latham was 1-for-3 with two runs scored. Courtesy runner Victoria Washburn scored twice and stole a base while pinch-runner Victoria Webb swiped a pair of bases.

Despite the game one loss, Browder said he was pleased with where his team landed in the bracket.

“Ultimately, in the grand scheme of things, that puts us where we need to be. We’re getting some rest. We’re in the same boat we were in last year.”

Demopolis will play Saturday at 8 a.m.