Blazers rally past Rebels

April 23, 2009|By JACK HILL III

Damara McDonough had two hits, two RBIs and pitched four solid innings of relief, leading the Clear Spring softball team to a 9-8 come-from-behind win over South Hagerstown on Wednesday.

"I was throwing everything and it was all working," said McDonough, who improved to 4-1 as the Blazers upped their record to 7-3. "I feel that we are getting better every time that we play. We are playing well together as a team. Softball is a team sport. When everybody is playing together and doing their job, it is hard to shut us down."

Morgan Purdham also had two hits and two RBIs, while Heather Schlotterbeck, Amber Forrest and McDonough scored two runs each for the Blazers, who trailed 8-4 with three innings left.

After getting a run in the top of the fifth, Clear Spring added four more runs in the sixth to take the 9-8 lead.

Schlotterbeck started the one-out rally with a single to center, took second on an errant pickoff attempt and scored on Forrest's single to center. After McDonough singled to center, Hannah Leizear singled to left to knock in Forrest. Korey Atherton reached on a fielder's choice, in which everybody was safe, to load the bases. McDonough scored the tying run on a wild pitch. Purdham then singled to right to drive in courtesy runner Laken Levardi with what proved to be the winning run.

"We are practicing hard, even when we are inside," Clear Spring coach Ron Baker said. "The thing about this team this year is that they have done their jobs."

Desiree Giffin belted a pair of three-run homers for South (3-8). The Rebels got their last two runs on Erin Asper's single to center in the fourth. Destanie Agee, Courtney Showe and Megan Sneckenberger had two hits apiece for the Rebels. Agee and Showe scored two runs each.

"Clear Spring put together a bunch of runs in that one inning," South coach Angie McQuillen said. "We just couldn't do that afterwards."

Clear Spring 9, South 8
Clear Spring 040 014 0 -- 9 9 0
South 330 200 0 -- 8 11 6
Forrest, McDonough (4) and Leizear. Ch. Showe and Co. Showe. WP -- McDonough (4-1). LP -- Ch. Showe. HR -- SH: Giffin 2 (1st, two on; 2nd, two on).

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