David Broyles/The News
David Broyles/The News
Surry Central’s Tiffani York takes a cut during Friday’s action against North Stokes.
David Broyles/The News
Central’s Meagan Hutson snags a fly ball in the outfield in Friday’s game.
David Broyles
Staff Reporter
DOBSON — Lightning does strike twice, and especially on Friday the 13th. Surry Central lost to North Stokes 7-4, which made it the second time in a week the Lady Eagles endured victory being snatched from them in the seventh inning counting an earlier loss to West Stokes.
“Good teams are going to get their hits,” said Coach Glenn Craddock. “These came in the wrong inning. I want the girls to stay positive. This won’t happen every game.”
North held a 2-0 lead at end of the fourth inning and added another run in the fifth. Central’s Kendra Johnson was hit by a pitch in the fifth to take her base. Teammate Karmen Gardner then drew a walk to put runners at first and second. Megan Hutson doubled to drive in the runs. Hutson was 2-for-4 in the game with two RBIs.
In the sixth, Central’s Cassidy Joyner had a base hit and a sacrifice fly advanced her to second base. Tiffani York doubled to drive Joyner home and ALyssa Southard connected for a base hit to bring York home. Bear in mind, this gave the Lady Eagles a 4-3 lead at the bottom of the sixth.
North rallied at the top of the seventh. The first batter grounded out the next batter’s blooper just enough to get her on base. The next batter walked to put runners at first and second. North’s next batter fouled off six pitches and then hit a three-run homer. The next batter had a base hit and an error by the Eagles drove the final runner to home plate for a fourth run to seal the win.
“We were playing a good hitting team with North Stokes,” said Coach Glenn Craddock. “I am proud that our girls never quit. We were down 3-0 at one point and the girls did not fold. They rallied to a 4-3 lead.” Craddock said the team was just “shell shocked” to see twice in one week a loss in the seventh.
“It’s going to turn our way,” added Craddock. “We just can’t roll over and play dead. Our time is going to come. We can play with the best of them.”
Elise Austin went the distance on the mound for the Lady Eagles. Craddock said she did a great job. Central is 6-5 in Northwest Conference play and 9-9 overall. Before play this week, Austin had 97 strikeouts and Craddock said an unofficial tally with this week’s action indicates she has surpassed the 100 mark in strikeouts.
Surry Central will face Mount Airy in the “Pink in the Park” game on Tuesday that will give special recognition to cancer survivors. Central senior Justin Elam will throw out the first pitch. Elam is a cancer survivor who battled the disease and also has maintained good grades in school.
“We are trying to teach kids it’s not all about softball,” commented Craddock. “In the game of life, things need to be done and doing the right thing is important.” He said that sponsor Rodney Darnell, owner of Surry Drug in Dobson, has been a great supporter and sponsor of the event for several years. Darnell is also a cancer survivor.
Central defeated South Stokes on Thursday, 4-3. The leading hitter for the Lady Eagles in that game was Brittany Myers, who was 2-for-3 with a home run, a double and three RBIs. Ivey Johnson was 1-for-3 with an RBI. Central scored one run in the fourth and sealed the win with three in the sixth. Stokes had one run in the fifth and two in the sixth.
Reach David Broyles at dbroyles@heartlandpublications.com or 719-1952.
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