Miller's Plumbing earns tough win over D-Trophies

By Wes Holtsclaw
STAR STAFF
wholtsclaw@starhq.com

   The league leaders proved why they were on top Thursday night.
   Fighting off a stingy David's Trophies squad, the Miller's Plumbing team used a late run to stay atop the Carter County League girls major league softball standings in a close 6-5 win at Unaka Elementary.
   "It was a good ball game from both teams," said Miller's Plumbing coach Dale Colbaugh. "Both played hard and deserved to win. We were just fortunate to come up with big plays at the end."
   "It was a great game to watch and we had to win this to seal first place." he said. "I'm proud of the kids for keeping it three straight years. We've played together as a team. It was a total team effort from all the girls."
   Miller's Plumbing opened the game and got rolling after Susie Loveday was hit by a pitch.
   Loveday scored on an error before Robin Whittington, Jaclyn Campbell, Brittany Brown and Hollie Grindstaff scored on walks to Hannah Colbaugh, Tessa Lunceford and a big Lacey Oliver single.
   David's Trophies followed with a walk to Amy Colbaugh, who scored on a Kayla Winters fielder's choice. Sarah Williams singled and scored on a Sallee Taylor hit, with Kasey Perry and Shauna Shamoradi singles closing the gap at 5-4.
   David's Trophies tied the game in the third inning when Jacquelin Greene scored on an Williams hit.
   Miller's Plumbing fired right back with some big walks before Hannah Colbaugh crossed the plate to take the 6-5 edge, which they held in their final defensive frame.
   Lacey Oliver took the victory on the mound for Miller's Plumbing over Sallee Taylor.
   L&T Enterprises 7
   I.R.S. 3
   Tied for first place after the regular season in girl's minor league softball place, L&T Enterprises and I.R.S. faced off to determine the top slot in upcoming tournament play Thursday night in Carter County League play.
   Both teams remained were tied 3-3 until a strong scoring spree from L&T Enterprises to take an advantage and wound out the outing with a 7-3 victory.
   Solid defense in the first inning gave L&T the edge early before they broke loose behind the bats. Robyn Miller opened with a walk before Jessica Bradley used a double and error to take the 1-0 lead.
   A single from Charity Honeycutt scored Bradley before a passed ball allowed her to sweep across the plate with a 3-0 lead for her squad.
   I.R.S. followed with a spree of their own with walks to Megan Hyatt and Whitney Hyatt, setting up a single from Emma Sturgill and an errored shot from Lacey Huskins.
   Katherine McInturff doubled for the squad, tying the game at 3-3.
   It wouldn't last long, as L&T's Hayley Bowers, Kendra Potter, Miller and Bradley scored on walks to take a 7-3 edge.
   I.R.S. fought back twice with singles from Kelli Bradley and Jamie Andrews, but it wasn't enough as L&T took over advantage in the tournaments.
   Peters Concrete 7
   B&R Construction 1
   Peters Concrete held their own early against B&R Construction in the girls major league late game, but didn't come alive until the second inning.
   Singles from Jamie Icenhour, Nikki Carrow, Rachel Horney, Marche Hughes, Kayla Blevins and Jessica Ledford with walks and runs from Keesha Miller, Nicole Cantrell and Justine Jones to take a 7-0 lead.
   B&R got on board in the third inning when Brittney Russell walked and scored on a Brittney Westberry errored shot.
   Concrete got singles from Cantrell and Brooke Johnson late in the game, holding off Construction with the victory. Kayla Blevins took the win from the mound.
   "I got in there and pitched my best," Blevins said. "We came out and did pretty good, played as a team."