
BY TRAVIS DAVID
[email protected]
The Dugger Union softball team could not have received a tougher draw for the Class 1A White River Valley Sectional. Clay City entered Monday’s sectional opener ranked No. 2 in the latest Class 1A state polls and winners of 13 straight.
The Eels lived up to their 19-1 record and state ranking by putting the game away early.
Dugger Union found itself in a 9-0 hole before coming to bat in the home half of the first inning. Clay City never let up in a 19-2 romp.
The Bulldogs finished the season with a 3-12 record.
The game started off innocently, as the first two Clay City batters grounded out. But the Eels proceeded to collect seven hits, four walks and a hit batter en route to a 9-spot before the third out was recorded.
Six of the Eels seven hits in the opening frame were singles with a 2-run double by Abbi Shearer.
Clay City added five more in the second, including home runs from Lexi Thompson and Faith Mitchell. Shearer left the yard in the third inning as the Eels extended their lead to 16-0.
After a scoreless fourth, the Bulldogs broke through.
Brinna Simpson led off with a double to left and moved to third on a blooper to center by Jordyn Smith. Kylie Gerig brought home Simpson for the first run on a groundout before Smith raced home on a wild pitch.
Dugger Union loaded the bases in the second inning on a single by Simpson, a walk to Smith and Hillary Flores being hit by a pitch. But Caroline Rexrode got out of the jam with her third punchout of the inning.
Rexrode went the distance, allowing three hits and fanned nine batters.
Simpson finished the game a perfect 2 for 2 in her final game in a Bulldogs uniform.
As a team, Clay City pounded out 19 hits in the win against four different Bulldog hurlers.
Clay City (20-1) takes on Shakamak in Wednesday’s first semifinal game.