in 11-inning

thriller

By Griffin Pritchard

The Selma Times-Journal

Softball season came to a sudden halt for the Lady Hornets of Dallas County High School Wednesday night after losing to rival Jemison High 7-6 in an 11-inning battle.

Jemison got on the board in the first inning, capitalizing on a handful of Lady Hornet errors, pushing a trio of runs across the plate.

The 3-0 tally stood tall until the bottom half of the fourth frame when Dallas County’s bats came to life.

DCHS scored three runs to tie the game. Jessica Melton, who pitched all 11 innings, led off with a single and then was moved to second on a single from Emilee Poe. Ashley Wilson ripped a liner to rightcenter to score Melton’s courtesy runner Cleandra Dixon. Kim Ross roped a double to score two runs and tie the game at 3-all.

Jemison, however, recaptured the momentum and hung two more runs on the scoreboard to push ahead 5-3.

DCHS tied the game at five all when Tiffany Ingram scored on a triple from Ross. Ross represented the tying run when she streaked to the plate following a passed ball.

The 5-5 tally held until the top of the 10th inning when Jemison pushed a run across.

DCHS answered to tie the game 6-6.

In the top of the 11th, Jemison pushed the winning run across the plate to secure the narrow 7-6 victory, amidst controversy.

Jessica Melton took the loss, despite allowing only a pair of earned runs.

Overall, DCHS finished their 2006 campaign 15-12.