Published: July 05, 2008 01:31 pm            

Burnside softball downs Corbin in extra frame

LONDON — The Burnside softball 11 & 12 year old All-Stars won a 9-6 extra inning thriller over Corbin.

The Burnside girls jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning after a lead-off walk by Destiny Molden, who later scored on a three-base error by Corbin’s outfield off the bat of Megan Burchett. Later, Burchett scored off an RBI ground out by Sara Smith.

Burnside upped their lead to 4-0 in the top of the third inning after a lead-off walk by Jennifer Smith and a single by Hope Bruner, followed by a walk by Adison Corder loading the bases. Sydney Fourman popped out to the shortstop, followed by a hard hit ground out to first base by Molden, which scored Smith and Bruner.

Corbin’s Destiny Wiseman drove in two runs in the bottom of the third to pull the Corbin All-Stars within two runs at 4-2.

Both team remained scoreless until the bottom of the sixth when Corbin mounted a rally to score two runs and tie the game at 4-4. Fourman came in the game as a relief pitcher and pulled Burnside out of the final inning, thus sending the game into extra innings.

Burnside started the seventh inning off with a Jennifer Smith single and a sacrifice bunt by Hope Bruner to advance Smith to second. Corder drove in Smith to put the Burnside All-Stars up 5-4. Fourman added another run after she reached base on a Corbin fielding error and went home later on another Corbin throwing error on a rundown play to put Burnside up 6-4.

But Corbin took advantage of a couple of walks and a Burnside defensive miscue to tie the game at 6-6 after seven innings.

But in the top of the eighth, Burnside’s Jennifer Smith hit a two RBI triple off the wall to score Emily Haynes and Rachael Schoolcraft, who was pinch-running for Kaitlyn Haynes. Hope Bruner followed by laying down a perfect bunt to squeeze home Smith and giving Burnside a 9-6 lead.

That was all Fourman needed to end the game as she retired the side in the pitcher’s circle. Burnside advanced to the finals to square of with North Laurel for the District 4 title.

Fourman picked up the win pitching 3 1/3 innings, striking out six batters, allowing only two hits and no earned runs.

Molden pitched 4 2/3 innings with six strikeouts.

Burnside was led at the plate by Jennifer Smith with two big hits, two RBI’s and three runs scored. Corder and Bruner had two hits and an RBI apiece. Burchett added a single and a run scored. Molden drove in two runs, while Sara Smith had one RBI.

“I believe we were looking ahead at the rematch with North Laurel too much and about overlooked Corbin,” Burnside All-Star coach Junior Molden said. “Corbin is a very scrappy team. We were trying to save our pitching for North Laurel and we about paid the price for it. I couldn’t be prouder of these girls. They play with heart and have fun doing it. I am sure they will never forget this game and how fun it was.”

        

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