Lady Bulldogs even the score with Lady Knights

By By Austin Bishop / EMG regional sports director
Sept. 19, 2004
Consider the score evened.
No. 3-ranked Clarkdale scored 11 runs in the sixth inning to stun top-ranked West Lauderdale 20-8 in slow-pitch softball on Saturday night, knocking the Lady Knights from the ranks of the unbeaten.
That the Lady Bulldogs did. Clarkdale, now 17-3 for the season, banged out 23 hits in the game.
Clarkdale had been struggling a little as of late, losing three games over the last two weeks.
Homestanding West Lauderdale led 7-5 after three innings, but Clarkdale scored three times in the fourth, once in the fifth and 11 in the sixth to take the run-rule win.
It was West Lauderdale that had knocked Clarkdale then ranked No. 1 in the state from the ranks of the unbeaten two weeks ago.
Drachenberg overcame a poor start on the mound and at the plate to rally the Lady Bulldogs to the win.
West Lauderdale (15-1) banged out 12 hits against Drachenberg over the first three innings, before she settled down to allow just four hits over the last three innings.
In the third inning, with her team trailing 6-4, Drachenberg had an embarrasing moment at the plate when she struck out swinging.
She did just that in the top of the fourth when she lined a two-out single off the glove of the West Lauderdale shortstop to drive in two runs and tie the game at 7. Savannah Satcher followed with an RBI single to put the Lady Bulldogs ahead for good.
Drachenberg wasn't through at the plate. She had an RBI single and a two-run double in the big sixth inning for Clarkdale.
The Lady Bulldogs sent an amazing 14 batters to the plate in the fourth, picking up nine hits and taking advantage of an uncommon five West Lauderdale errors.
Drachenberg wasn't the only Lady Bulldog to have two hits in the fourth inning. Ashley Bye had a double and single, and Satcher recorded a single and triple.
Roberson said that although the game with West Lauderdale wasn't a division game, it was important.
Ashley Bye had two singles and two doubles to lead Clarkdale at the plate, and Satcher had a triple and three singles. Drachenberg had a double and three singles. Tessa Gamble had a double, two RBIs and asacrifice fly for CHS. Cayla Coleman hit a double and single, and Kim Seale picked up two singles.
Kristi Lantz led West Lauderdale's 16-hit attack with three singles, and Holly Herrington had a single and triple. Hayley Campbell, Katie McAlister and Morgan Gullette had two singles each. Kayla Eubanks had a triple.
Clarkdale hosts Philadelphia at 7 p.m. Tuesday, and West Lauderdale visits Division 5-3A foe Southeast Lauderdale at 7 p.m. Monday.
West Lauderdale 9
Neshoba Central 2
The Lady Knights opened the day with a convincing win over the visiting Lady Rockets of Neshoba Central, ranked No. 15 in the state.
Eubanks had two triples and a singe to lead WL at the plate, while driving in two runs and scorind four others.
McAlister had three hits, while Campbell and Gullette had two each for the Lady Knights. Kady Chandler led Neshoba Central with three singles.