DHS on eight-game tear

Published 4:29 pm Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Demopolis (19-7) only scored in two frames, but put together enough offense to back pitcher Madison Laduron (15-5) on the way to an 8-5 win over American Christian Tuesday.

RayLee Eubanks stroked a single in the bottom of the sixth inning to plate Kristin Beach and Maria Brooker and put DHS up 7-5 after ACA had evened the game in the top half of the frame.

Later in the inning, Alex Crawford found herself in an 0-2 hole with the bases loaded and two outs. Crawford fouled off pitch after pitch during the at-bat before finally ripping a grounder to short. A misplay by the ACA fielder allowed Eubanks to score the final run of the game.

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“She finally made up her mind she was not going down,” Demopolis coach Todd Mathis said. “When they fight like that, they can play with anybody.”

Demopolis got most of its offense in the second inning when it plated five runs with two outs to take the early 5-0 lead. The Lady Tigers scuffled in the top of the next frame, allowing four ACA players to cross the plate to cut the score to 5-4.

Demopolis got a complete game win out of Laduron, who struck out nine batters while scattering four hits and four walks.

Eubanks led the offense, going 2-for-4 with four RBIs and a run scored. Beach went 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. Laduron was 1-for-2 with two walks. Brooker scored a pair of runs serving as Laduron’s courtesy runner.

Crawford and Donelle Hale each went 1-for-4. Madison Bozeman was 1-for-2 with a run scored. Olivia Brame went 1-for-3 with a walk. Victoria Washburn scored a run. Sophomore catcher Alexis Jones was 3-for-4 in the game.

“She has developed a lot,” Mathis said of Jones, who missed much of offseason workouts while playing basketball for DHS and only moved into regular catching duties less than two weeks ago after Riley King sustained a knee injury. “She has picked up on the terminology better. She has come on well for us.”

The win was the eighth in a five-day span for the Lady Tigers, who defeated Hale County 9-3 Monday after going 6-0 and winning the Tombigbee Tournament in Butler over the weekend.

While visiting the Wildcats, Laduron worked seven innings, striking out four and scattering seven hits.

Beach went 1-for-4 with a pair of runs. Brooker scored two runs and stole a base. Eubanks was 1-for-1 with a three-run homer. Meredith Mackin was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs. Hale and Brame each scored a run. Alex Crawford was 1-for-3 with two runs scored. Lewis went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.

DHS opened play in the Tombigbee tournament Friday in Jackson, downing Citronelle 4-1. Laduron struck out six batters in six innings, walking none and allowing only three hits.

Beach was 1-for-3 with a single and a run scored. Victoria Webb was 1-for-3. Laduron went 1-for-3 with a single. Brooker scored a run. Eubanks was 2-for-3 with a triple, two RBIs and a run scored. Hale went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored. Brame was 1-for-3 with an RBI. Jones went 1-for-1. Demopolis followed that win by downing Jackson 6-5. Mackin (4-0) worked three innings, struck out three, walked two and allowed three hits to pick up the win. Laduron worked an inning and Lewis picked up her fourth save of the season. Beach went 2-for-2 with a double and a run scored. Eubanks scored a run. Hale scored a run. Colyar went 1-for-2 with a run and an RBI. Brooker scored a run and Bozeman went 1-for-1.

The Lady Tigers opened play Saturday by defeating Millry 4-0. Laduron struck out eight over seven innings, walking one and giving up no hits.

Beach went 4-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Laduron was 1-for-4 with an RBI. Eubanks scored a run. Hale went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Jones was 1-for-4 with an RBI. Brame went 1-for-4. Crawford was 2-for-3.

Demopolis followed up that victory by trouncing Monroe County 14-3 in Leroy. Mackin struck out five batters over two innings to get the win.

Brame went 1-for-4 with two runs scored. Hale went 3-for-3 with two doubles, two runs and two RBIs. Colyar was 1-for-1 with two runs and an RBI. Danielle Tatum went 1-for-1. Lewis was 1-for-2 with a run and two RBIs. Bozeman went 1-for-1 with a run scored and an RBI.

Demopolis’ third victory Saturday saw it beat host team Leroy 7-4. Laduron struck out seven batters over five innings, walking two and giving up five hits for the win. Beach went 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Laduron was 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Brooker scored a run. Eubanks went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Colyar was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Jones went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Crawford was 1-for-2 with a run scored and two RBIs. Lewis was 1-for-2 with two RBIs.

Demopolis wrapped up the tournament with a 1-0 championship game win over Citronelle Saturday night.Laduron worked seven innings, struck out six and allowed one walk and one hit to get the victory. Beach went 1-for-2 and scored the Lady Tigers’ only run of the game while Laduron was also 1-for-2.