Demopolis throttles Bibb

Published 9:51 pm Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Madison Laduron got it done in the circle and at the plate Tuesday as the Lady Tigers extended their win streak to 10 games with a 1-0 win over visiting Bibb County.

Laduron entered the sixth inning with a perfect game before a dropped popup allowed Bibb County its first baserunner of the contest. The junior hurler quickly slammed the door on the Choctaws’ threat before leading off the bottom of the sixth inning with a home run to left field. The solo shot was the first round-tripper of Laduron’s career.

“I was just glad we were winning then,” Laduron said of the milestone moment. “That’s all I was worried about.”

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“She’s starting to hit the ball in the zone better. She’s worked hard,” Demopolis coach Todd Mathis said of Laduron’s development as a hitter.

Laduron’s shot gave Demopolis (22-7) the lead, but the play of the game came in the contest’s final sequence. After losing her no-hitter against the opening batter of the seventh inning, Laduron picked up a bunted ball and threw to first to record the first out of the frame.

The Choctaws had runners on second and third with one out when third baseman Sydney Colyar fielded a chopper and looked the runner back to third base before firing to first for out number two. First baseman Kristin Beach caught the ball cleanly and reacted swiftly as the Choctaw runner carrying the potential tying run broke for home. Beach rifled the ball home where sophomore catcher Alexis Jones snagged it and applied the tag to wrap up the 5-3-2 double play and close out the game.

“That was beautiful. I haven’t seen one of those in a long time,” Mathis said of the play. “I told them in the team huddle, that’s why we do that every day.”

The play backed up a stellar effort by Laduron, who struck out five batters while allowing two hits and issuing no walks over seven innings of work. Laduron also went 2-for-3 at the plate with the home run and a single, representing two of the Lady Tiger’ five hits in the game.

“You don’t see it often,” Mathis said of the way Laduron dominated the game. “She feels confident because she knows she’s got her teammates backing her up on defense.” Raylee Eubanks, Madison Bozeman and Alex Crawford each singled in the game.

The win came a day after the Lady Tigers dispatched Aliceville 19-0 in three innings of play. Laduron (18-5) picked up the win in that contest before handing the pitching duties over to Zoe Lewis to close out the game.

The Lady Tigers scored 12 runs in the first inning to put the game out of reach before adding seven more in the second.

Beach walked and scored a run. Courtney Lawrence walked, was hit by a pitch and scored two runs. Laduron walked once and scored a run. Victoria Washburn got hit by a pitch and scored two runs. Danielle Tatum had an RBI and scored two runs. Donelle Hale walked and scored two runs. Lewis walked three times, had a triple, scored two runs and had four RBIs. Colyar scored a run. Brittany Tanner doubled and scored a run. Jones had an RBI and scored a run. Olivia Brame walked and had an RBI. Baliegh Grace had an RBI. Bozeman walked twice, scored two runs and had an RBI.