A back-and-forth battle unfolded at Clement ball field Monday night, as the All-County 13-15 softball teams from Midway and Lakewood squared up for a bout for the ages, with high tensions, a sweltering sun and just enough offense from the Lady Leps to take the 6-5 contested win.
Lakewood’s Sophia Melvin took the first cuts in the batter’s box, but before she could take a swing, McKenna Sinclair’s pitch struck her, sending her to first. Bella Griffin moved her to third on a standup double, looking to strike early against the Raiders. Abby Williams scored the game’s first run on a sacrifice to send Melvin across the dish. Ryleigh Miller’s rocket of a line drive was snagged on a snow cone by Sterlyn Tyndall at first, getting the catch with the top of her mitt. A dropped strike three saw Sierra Johnson get thrown at first to end the top of the first.
Tyndall was Midway’s first batter, facing off against Griffin on the mound. Tyndall took a five-pitch walk to get aboard, with McKenna Sinclair stepping in next, who also walked to add another Raider runner with no outs. Bailey Hargrove’s turn in the box resulted in a duel between her and Griffin, with Hargrove protecting via foul balls after finding herself behind in the count. Hargrove found her pitch, which resulted in Tyndall and Sinclair taking the lead after a throwing error, putting Hargrove at third on the play. Sutton Hargrove followed that outing with a pop-up to second for the first out in the bottom of the first. Hannah Bass was sent down looking for back-to-back outs, and Hannah Knowles belted one up the middle to the outfield to score Hargrove, but a daring attempt at taking second threw her out trying to slide into the bag to end the inning…