Lady Tigers Gain Senior Night Victory

BY NORM BETZ –

The Acorn Lady Tigers defeated the Caddo Hills Indians 10-2 on Senior Night in Acorn. The game did end in a very weird way when Acorn scored their 10^th run of the game, to put them up 10-2, the umpire said, “Ballgame, eight runs after six innings,” and walked off the field. Both teams and fans looked lost as no one had ever heard this run-rule invoked.

Prior to the game, the five 2015 Seniors were recognized, including: Adri Howard, Misty Oglesby, Kelsie Simmons, Katie Philpot, and Tara Warrington.

“It’s always a special game for the seniors to play their last home game,” said Lady Tigers head coach Chris Ledbetter. “I’m glad we were able to get it done so the seniors last game was a victory.”

Caddo Hills had one batter reach first via a hit, while the other three that went to the box all flew out.

Sophomore Harley Dearing led off the game for the Lady Tigers with a five pitch walk. Senior Misty Oglesby, freshman Tori Barrett and junior Ashley Long all singled in the first, with Long picking up an RBI. Acorn led Caddo Hills 1-0 after the first inning.

The Lady Indians had a pair of batters single, but couldn’t produce any runs as the Lady Tigers converted a pair of ground outs and also grabbed a fly ball.

Acorn went three-up and three-down for the only time in the contest on a strike out and a pair of fly outs. The Lady Tigers held onto a 1-0 lead after two innings.

The Lady Indians followed in the next inning, sending three to the box and having three come back to the dugout, on three straight ground outs.

Howard led off the bottom of the third with a single and was immediately knocked home when Oglesby blasted a home run to center field. Barrett walked and scored on a triple off the bat of Simmons. Simmons also scored after back-to-back singles by Philpot and Warrington. Acorn led 5-0 at the end of the third.

The Lady Indians got on the board in the top of the fourth on a home run by their pitcher. Caddo Hills did manage to get six Lady Indians on base, with two of those runners being thrown out at home on back-to-back defensive plays by the Lady Tigers.

Dearing led off the bottom of the fourth with a double and later scored on an RBI single by Barrett. Barrett also scored on a two RBI double by Simmons. Long also scored as she batted before Simmons and reached via a walk. At the completion of the fourth inning, the Lady Tigers led 8-1.

Caddo Hills added another run in the top of the fifth on a solo home run by their pitcher. The other three batters were sent back to the dugout after back-to-back ground outs and a fly out. The Lady Indians trailed the Lady Tigers 8-2 in the middle of the fifth.

Acorn wasn’t able to push any runs across the dish in the bottom of the fifth but held onto an 8-2 lead.

Five Lady Indians stepped in the batters box with two of them reaching first base and ultimately getting stranded on second and third base after back-to-back ground outs.

Oblesby and Barrett both reached on walks and both scored. After Barrett crossed the plate, the umpire declared the game over by the mysterious eight after six run-rule.

Senior Adri Howard was the winning pitcher, allowing one run, while facing 18 Lady Indians batters. Freshman Tori Barrett pitched the final two innings, facing nine batters, striking out one and giving up one run.

“This was a great win for our seniors,” explained Ledbetter. “These girls started the softball program here three years ago and it’s nice they were able to get the win in their final home game.”

The Lady Tigers will head to the Regional Tournament as the No. 2 seed after finishing the regular season 8-4 as the conference runner-up.

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