MERIDIAN —
In a game of missed opportunities, Clarkdale managed to take advantage one more time.
Enterprise, the two-time defending state champion, had its chances early in Game 1 of the MHSAA Class 2A fast-pitch South State championship series, stranding five of its six runners left on base in the first three innings. Clarkdale, the host, left all five of its runners on in the final three innings, but still squeaked out a 4-3 win. Game 2 of the best-of-3 series is in Enterprise at 4 p.m. Saturday with Game 3, if necessary, to follow.
“We were maybe one more break ahead and that’s why we scored one more run than they did,” Clarkdale coach Rick Roberson said. “And we’ll take it.
“I told the team that was half the job. We’ll celebrate this one until we close our eyes and then we’ll wake up and go back to work.”
That one extra opportunity came in the fifth. There Clarkdale (26-2) broke open a 1-1 tie as the first three Bulldogs reached. After Kennedy Castleberry singled and stole second, Kristen Mitchell gave Clarkdale the lead for good with an RBI single to left-center. 15-15 Enterprise pitcher Hayleigh Harper then hit Molly McLeod before Heather Harwell bunted the runners to second and third.
Lindsey Beard then loaded the bases, reaching on a fielder’s choice before Sarah Harris doubled to left to push Clarkdale’s lead to 4-1. Beard was thrown out at third on the play and Harris was then caught off third following Lauren Thrash’s single to left to end the inning.
“They had some opportunities and they got the big hit there,” Enterprise coach Josh Perkins said. “They had the hit with the bases loaded that got them some runs.
“I thought Harper threw well and gave us a chance.”
Clarkdale missed a chance to put the game away an inning later. After Enterprise pulled back within 4-3, Clarkdale loaded the bases with one out in the seventh. However, Harper got McLeod to pop out to shortstop and then shortstop Malauri Robinson made a diving grab on Harwell’s line drive up the middle.
Still, Clarkdale had already done enough as Abby Roberts proceeded to retire Enterprise’s top three hitters — Morgan Porter, Harper and Randa Mathis — in order to end it.
Enterprise clawed back in the game after that fifth-inning rally by Clarkdale by taking advantage of some miscues. Harley Smith, who had two of Enterprise’s three hits off Roberts, singled to open the sixth and after retiring the next two, Roberts issued her fifth and final walk of the game to Hayley Fox. Both runners then scored when Clarkdale booted Brittany Haguewood’s grounder, making it 4-3.
Most of Roberts’ wildness came early as she walked the first two hitters of the game, but was able to strikeout a pair in the first inning, leaving runners at second and third. After Clarkdale scored in the home half of the first, Roberts again issued a walk in the second but Enterprise was unable to capitalize.
“When someone gives you an opportunity, you have to take advantage and we didn’t do that at all,” Perkins said. “I thought our approach at the plate completely changed from what we’ve been doing the past 2-3 weeks.
“We weren’t very disciplined hitters at all. We have to be a better hitter, a disciplined hitter and we’ll make those adjustments and see if that helps.”
Her fourth walk — to Harper with one out in the third — caught up to her. Mathis followed with the Bulldogs’ first hit and Smith then singled to load the bases. Katie Jo Riley, running for Harper, then scored on a passed ball with two outs. But Enterprise again left two on as Roberts struck out a pair, ending with eight in the game.
“She made some big pitches and got us off the hook there a few times,” Roberson said.
Harper struck out just three, but walked only one as Clarkdale had eight hits, led by Thrash and Roberts with two each.
Sports
Halfway Home
Clarkdale edges rival Enterprise; one win away from title berth
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