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At 4-0, the Suwannee Middle School Softball team has dominated its opponents, outscoring them 61 to 6.

The Lady Pups opened against Richardson Middle School. SMS didn’t produce a lot of offense, but with a good defensive game behind starting pitcher Tinsley Smith, the Pups won 16-0.

Suwannee’s second contest of the season was against long-time rival Taylor County Bulldogs. With better production offensively, led by Hollan Abercrombie, Brittany Shearer, Natasha Clark and Krissy Sardina, the lady Pups scored 23 runs on 13 hits. Suwannee’s defense held strong behind eighth grade pitcher Marshanna Boyette, who gave up only five hits and struck out 12. SMS won 23-3.

The Lady Pups were “improving every day,” said coach Clay Ross. Just in time for their most feared rival, the Lake City Falcons. SMS handed LCMS their only defeat of their 2006 season. With that thought in mind, SMS knew that anything less than their ‘A’ game would result in defeat. Coaches Clay Ross, Tommy Abercrombie and Teresa Owens had the Lady Pups fired up and ready to play.

After hits by Sardina, Abercrombie and after Emily Ross was hit by a pitch, Suwannee had the bases loaded in the first with one out. LCMS ended Suwannee’s hopes of drawing first blood with an inning-ending double play.

The game remained scoreless through the third inning in what looked to be a traditional pitchers’ duel. In the top of the fourth, however, Suwannee’s bats came to life when Maegan Olson singled with one out. Then Natasha Clark lit up the scoreboard with an RBI double scoring Olson. Tinsley Smith then scored Clark with a two-out single. In the bottom of the fourth the SMS defense shut the Lady Falcons down 1-2-3. In the top of the fifth, LCMS returned the favor as Suwannee went three up, three down. Lake City came up empty again in the bottom of the inning as the Lady Pup defense stood strong.

Suwannee regained their momentum in the top of the sixth as shortstop Abercrombie led off with a single, followed by an RBI double by second baseman Olson. Not to be outdone, Shearer doubled in Olson. Suwannee now led, 4-0. The Lady Falcons tried to rebound but Suwannee squelched every attempt with a stellar defense.

In the top of the seventh Suwannee began nailing the door shut on 2006 conference champion Lady Falcons. With one out, Emily Ross drove one to the right center field fence for the game’s only triple. Abercrombie then doubled, scoring Ross. Rightfielder Shearer then singled sending Abercrombie to the dish on a close play, but the umpire called “safe” as Hollan went in head first. With one chance left, LCMS came to bat in the bottom of the seventh to try to get some kind of offense started. But Smith and the SMS defense was not having it as the Lady Falcons went down three in a row.

Suwannee won their third conference game in a row, 6-0. The SMS offense put on a hitting clinic with a 14-hit offensive display — nine singles, four doubles, and a triple. On the defensive side, Smith shut down LCMS with a one-hit shutout with no walks.

After three convincing wins, Suwannee went on their third consecutive road trip. Madison Middle School turned out to be the Lady Pups’ next victim. With 13 hits, five doubles and 26 runs, SMS was again too strong for the opposition.