PENSACOLA, Fla. —
The Valdosta State softball team’s offense continued to roll in the second day of the West Florida tournament in Pensacola, Fla., making short work of Young Harris, 11-1, 9-1, in two shortened games to improve to 4-0.
All-American Morgan Johnson scored the first run of the day on her way to three RBIs and three runs with a home run. After reaching on a hit by pitch, she stole second. Kiley Rusen knocked her in with a double to left field, then Rusen stole home. Shelby Altman followed with a home run.
Altman was an impressive 3 for 3 with a home run and four RBIs in the win.
The Blazers added to their lead with four more runs in the second. Ashley Steinhilber singled and Fran Johnson reached on a hit by pitch. Courtney Albritton drew a walk to load the bases, then Rusen picked up an RBI when she walked to bring home Steinhilber.
Karson King singled to bring Johnson and Albritton in, then Altman scored Rusen with a single up the middle. Before the Mountain Lions knew it, they were in a 7-0 hole.
Then the Blazers added three more runs in the third inning.
Steinhilber and Johnson hit consecutive singles, and Albritton reached on an error. Then Morgan Johnson knocked a two-run double to left center. Altman was hit by a pitch, bringing in Albritton.
Young Harris was able to score one run in the fourth. Altman drove in Rusen in the fifth to give VSU an 11-1 lead. The Mountain Lions could not score enough runs in the bottom of the fifth to prevent the game from ending due to the mercy rule.
Brianna Hancock earned the win. She pitched four innings and gave up three hits and one run, while striking out three. Hanna Lythberg finished the game in the final inning with two strikeouts.
The Mountain Lions scored a run in the first inning of the second game, but VSU answered with four runs in the bottom half of the inning.
Albritton led off with a single and Johnson reached on another hit by pitch. Rusen walked to load the bases, then Altman took one more hit by pitch to score Albritton. King walked, scoring another run. Altman scored next when Steinhilber reached on an error, then King scored on an Alli Coulter groundout.
In the second inning, Johnson blasted her third home run of the weekend to push the lead to 5-0. In the third inning, Sarah Vaughn hit a two-run double to help the Blazers put up three runs in the inning. VSU scored one more run in the fourth, then held Young Harris scoreless in the fifth to close out another run rule victory.
The Blazers will travel to Albany on Feb. 11 for a doubleheader against Albany State, which begins at 1 p.m.
Local Sports
Blazer softball team sweeps Young Harris
- Local Sports
-
-
Gillespie, McPherson pleased with spring practices
Valdosta’s Rance Gillespie and Lowndes’ Randy McPherson both think their football teams got better during the recent 10 days of spring practice.
Then again, both coaches know their teams have a ways to go before the start of the football season. -
Signing day at VHS
It was signing day galore at Valdosta High School Wednesday.
Six student-athletes signed national letter of intents to compete at the next level, while two VHS athletes both signed academic scholarships to Division I universities. -
Powell signs with Shorter
Robert Powell, a member of the basketball team on South Georgia State College’s Waycross Campus, has signed a letter of intent to continue his basketball career at Shorter University in Rome.
-
Sending the Blazers off
The Valdosta State softball team made the long journey to Salem, Va. Tuesday, leaving Valdosta at 10:30 a.m. with devoted fans cheering them out of the parking lot.
-
All-Region teams announced
Lowndes was one win away from a trip to the Class AAAAAA state semifinals, and the success by the Vikings this season showed when the All-Region 1 baseball teams were announced Monday.
-
Lowndes tennis dominates
Lowndes’ tennis team dominated the All-Region 1 teams, with coach Heath Phelps garnering Coach of the Year honors on both the girls’ and boys’ side.
-
Banks Lake Youth Fishing Derby a success
The 13th annual Banks Lake Youth Fishing Derby held May 11 drew 150 children from ages 3 to 15 who competed for trophies while learning how to fish.
-
Valdosta's Alakulppi ties for 2nd at state
Valdosta freshman golfer Luukas Alakulppi fired a 71 to finish in a tie for second at the Class AAAAAAA state golf tournament in Tifton.
-
Brooks County's Parrish in Rivals Top 100
Brooks County rising senior Malkolm Parrish is ranked the 73rd best high school football prospect in the nation, according to the release of the Rivals.com Top 100.
-
Summer camp information
VSU baseball camp coming soon
- More Local Sports Headlines
-
Gillespie, McPherson pleased with spring practices
