May 21, 2007

Lady Lions Shut Out Otero to Stay Alive in NJCAA Tourney

PLANT CITY, Fla.--The Wallace State Lady Lions dismissed Otero Junior College (LaJunta, Colo.) from the National Junior College Athletic Association’s Division I Fast Pitch Softball National Championship with a 9-0 win in their second game of the tournament, which continues through Saturday at the International Softball Federation Headquarters in Plant City, Fla.  

Wallace State’s shutout of No. 5 seeded Otero marks the first win for any Alabama team at the National Tournament. The Lady Lions have made two prior appearances in 2003 and 2005.

“We’ve finally got the monkey off our back,” said Wallace State Coach Jayne Clem. “Now we can play.”

Game 1 – Wallace State vs. Miami Dade

The Lady Lions were put into the loser’s bracket with a 4-2 opening round loss to Miami-Dade College.

Wallace State entered the tournament seeded 13^th with a 62-9 record, while Miami-Dade College was seeded fourth with a 41-20-1 record. 

Clem felt her team fell short of their potential in their debut on Thursday at 2 p.m. “We played scared,” she said. “We have won games against much better teams all season long, but I think freshmanitis got the best of us.”

After a 45-minute rain delay in the middle of the first inning, Miami scored the first run of the game in the first, and added two more runs in the fourth inning. Wallace State got on the board during their next at bat with a home run by right fielder Delaina Franklin. The Lady Lions added another run in the next inning when Rachel Baucom scored on a double by catcher Dandi Ammons. Miami added the final run in the seventh inning.

Holli Hill, who pitched the complete seven-inning game for Wallace, was saddled with the loss. She gave up four runs on seven hits, struck out four and walked four.

Franklin led the Wallace State offense with the home run and a double in three plate appearances. Ammons also went 2-for-3 with a RBI. Sarah Wilson doubled. Baucom had a hit and scored.

Game 2 – Wallace State vs. Otero

The Lady Lions returned to the field at 8 p.m. on Thursday a different team.

“During the break, we told the team to show Otero what the Wallace State Lady Lions are made of.” Clem said. “We came a long way, and we’re not ready to go home.”

Ashley Pratt picked up the win for Wallace State. She pitched four no-run innings, gave up two hits and walked one. At bat, she went 3-for-3 and scored a run.

“Ashley played awesome for us tonight.  She started out a little nervous, but once she settled down, she didn’t allow a hit,” said Clem.

Jennifer Sexton pitched the final inning with one hit and one strike out.

Franklin got her second homerun of the day and added another RBI and 2-for-3 performance. Ammons went 2-for-2 with a RBI and a run. Amanda Rogers batted 2-for-3 with a RBI and two runs. Lacy Kerr had a hit and drove one in. Baucom drove in a run. Wilson scored twice and drove in one.  Courtney Underwood and Lindsey McDaniel also scored.

To end the game after five innings, the Lady Lions scored one run in the first inning, four in the second, two runs in the third, and two in the fourth.

Twelve teams remain in the 16 team tournament. 

The Lady Lions will play Louisburg College (Louisburg, N.C.) on Friday at noon. If they continue winning, they’ll play at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Friday, and at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday.

For the latest results and tournament information, visit www.njcaa.org or http://www.internationalsoftball.com/english/events/njcaa2007.asp.

Game Photos:

Holli Hill on the mound

ROSTER:

No.      Name                           Class    Position            Hometown

1          Jena Franks                  Fr         2B/OF             Muscle Shoals

2          Delaina Franklin            So        OF                   Pleasant Grove

3          Brooke Allgood            Fr         P/UT                Oak Grove

4          Amanda Rogers            Fr         UT                   Athens

5          Dandi Ammons             Fr         C/3B                Chelsea

7          Brittany Walker            Fr         OF                   Madison

8          Holli Hill                       Fr         P                      Boaz

9          Jennifer Sexton             Fr         P/1B                Harvest

10        Sarah Wilson                Fr         OF                   Alabaster

11        Lacy Kerr                    Fr         P/OF                Athens

13        Hannah Strength           Fr         SS/UT              Bessemer

15        Cady Smith                  Fr         1B/3B              Town Creek

17        Courtney Underwood   So        1B/OF             Huntsville

22        Kaitlyn King                 Fr         UT                   Moulton

23        Ashley Pratt                  Fr         P/3B                Madison

24        Lindsey McDaniel         So        3B/1B              Tuscaloosa

55        Rachel Baucom            Fr         C/UT               Columbus, Miss.

  Kristen Holmes
  Director, Communications and Marketing
  Wallace State Community College
  P.O. Box 2000
  Hanceville, AL 35077
  256/352-8118
  E-mail: Kristen.Holmes@WallaceState.edu