Lady Wolverines’ season ends with Lakeview loss

The agony of defeat.

After falling behind 3-1, the East Clarendon Lady Wolverines’ softball team rallied for a 4-4 tie and forced an extra inning but couldn’t keep the pace and fell to the Lakeview Lady Gators 6-4 last Wednesday.

The loss ended the Lady Wolverines’ strong season with an overall record of 16-4.

The loss for Head Coach Lisa Ard was a hard pill to swallow, but she said she was extremely happy for her team’s effort.

“They (Lakeview) just had some gas there at the end that we just couldn’t match. We ran out of gas, but we played ball,” Ard said. “It was a great year. I can’t complain.”

Ard had four dedicated seniors on her team this year, Sheila Tomlinson, Kristan McElveen, Danielle Welch and Kaitlin Malone.

Ard said their hard work and leadership was unmatched and was a reason for the Lady Wolverines’ success on the diamond.

“Sheila Tomlinson is a solid stick at the four spot on the lineup,” Ard said. “She’s our leader and she’s solid there for us. Danielle Welch had a strong stick for us. Caitlin Malone was an excellent bunter. She’s big in the dugout by keeping everybody up. Kristin McElveen kills it. She never gives up and works all the time.”

The Lady Gators opened the game on a tear in the top of the first with the first two batters getting on base.

Morgan Wethington and Chessie Miller each crossed the plate to give Lakeview a 2-0 lead.

They were threatening to make it 3-0 but the Lady Wolverines tightened up and retired three out of the next four batters to end the inning trailing 2-0.

Leslie Altman led off the East Clarendon in the bottom of the inning with a crushing double.

She stole third base; however she was stranded when the next three batters got nothing going and were retired.

Stiff ECHS defense and pitching held the Lady Gators for the next two innings.

It was not until the top of the fourth inning they crossed the plate again.

Morgan Herlong led off with a single and later made her way to third.

Following a Brittany Floyd single, Herlong raced to home increasing the LHS lead to 3-0.

The Lady Wolverines answered in the bottom of the inning with their first run when Tomlinson scored off of a Grayson Smith double.

The score cut their deficit to 3-1.

The Lady Wolverines again did not let Lakeview score again until the seventh inning; which did put their deficit back at three runs.

ECHS’ offense gathered and in the bottom of the seventh, they combined for three hits and brought in three runs that knotted the score at 4-4.

Altman made it to second base and was in scoring position but Smith struck out, stranding her and the game went into the extra inning.

The Lady Gators scored two runs to go back in front 6-4 and ECHS couldn’t answer.

Ard said despite the loss and departure of key players, she feels confident the future is bright for East Clarendon softball.

“We’ve got girls that want to play and they give it their all,” she said. “We’ve got a great program here in Turbeville.”