By Thomas Grant Jr.
An improbable comeback coming off Spring Break against the defending Region 4-5A champions has Dutch Fork back in contention.
The 10-9 home win over the Lady Wildcats saw the Lady Silver Foxes score all of their runs in the bottom of the sixth inning after trailing 6-0.
Olivia Hill and Lillie-Grace Moore started the rally with back-to-back singles off Lexington pitcher Haley Manz. Limestone signee Allie Boone followed with an RBI double, and Haley Alderman cleared the bases with a single to make it 6-3.
Grace Fonseca replaced Manz on the mound and immediately gave up a walk to Layla Peppers and an RBI single to Dakota Jenkins to bring Dutch Fork within 6-4.
Abigail Pouliot tied the game with a 2-run single of Manz who returned to the mound. After Ayanna Russell struck out, Hill singled again to bring home Jenkins and put the Lady Silver Foxes ahead 7-6.
The rally continued as Boone brought home two more runs with a single and Moore scored on an error for the 10th run.
Lexington looked to answered in the top of the seventh. Following a Sam Craig RBI single, the bases were loaded with two outs when she was tagged out by Boone at homeplate on a groundball misplayed for an error that scored Hinz.
It was a different story Friday for Dutch Fork. For the second time this season, it was defeated by Gray Collegiate 11-0 as pitcher Maddox Long struck out 10, allowed just two hits and drove in three runs.
Dutch Fork looked to fare better Monday versus J.F. Byrnes before upcoming region rematches at home Tuesday against White Knoll and Friday against frontrunner Chapin.
IRMO
The Lady Yellow Jackets dropped to 4-2 in Region 5-4A following two losses to A.C. Flora.
They were shut out 3-0 in Game One on April 9 despite five strikeouts and one earned run allowed by Lele Bennett. In Game Two, Irmo built a 9-2 as University of Georgia signee Precious Bross drove in three runs and Makenna Reiner went 3-4 with an RBI.
However, A.C. Flora rallied for eight runs in the bottom of the sixth inning for the 10-9 victory. The Lady Yellow Jackets returned to action Tuesday at Westwood.
SCORBORD TOP 10 SOCCER COACHES POLL
(Girls)
All Classifications
1.Mauldin, 2. Pinewood Prep, 3. Chapin, 4. J.L. Mann, 5. Eastside, 6. Oceanside Collegiate, 7. Lucy Beckham, 8. Wando, 9. Catawba Ridge, 10. Clover
Class 5A
1.Maudlin, 2. Chapin, 3. J.L. Mann, 4. Wando, 5. Clover, 6. Lexington, 7. River Bluff, 8. Blythewood, 9. St. James, 10. West Ashley
(Boys)
All Classifications
1.J.L. Mann, 2. Clover, 3. Cardinal Newman, 4. Catawba Ridge, 5. Oceanside Collegiate, 6. Ashley Ridge, 7. River Bluff, 8. A.C. Flora, 9. Gray Collegiate, 10. St. Joseph’s Catholic School
Class 5A
1.J.L. Mann, 2. Clover, 3. Ashley Ridge, 4. River Bluff, 5. Mauldin, 6. Wando, 7. Stratford, 8. Dutch Fork, 9. Nation Ford, 10. Hillcrest
