Published Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:41 PM
Updated Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:42 PM

 

Wave to battle Knights in district final

The Summerville softball team defeated Hartsville 6-0 Wednesday to advance to the District 7 finals of the Class AAAA playoffs.

The Green Wave will face Stratford for the district championship tomorrow, but needs two wins over the Knights to take home the title and continue in the playoffs. Stratford (27-3) defeated Summerville (23-8) Tuesday by a 2-1 margin in nine innings to send the Wave into the loser’s bracket. The game was postponed twice due to rain, but Summerville coach Heather Tucker says that’s not all bad.

“It took us three days to get that game in because of rain, but now with us having been over there three times this week, I think we are use to it,” she said. “I’m not really worried about the home-field advantage. It should be a good ball game. If we come to play, we definitely have the talent to beat them.”

On Wednesday, Summerville scored three runs in the first inning off only one hit. Leadoff batter Ashley Muckelvaney walked and then Emily Purcell moved her over with a single. Rochelle Lyda, Malori Myers and Sarah Montei received three straight walks to push in two runs. Jordan Blanton then drove in Lyda with a fielder’s choice for a 3-0 Wave lead.

“The first inning was great,” Summerville coach Heather Tucker said. “We had a game plan going in because we knew their pitcher was struggling some with control. We did a great job being selective at the plate and it led to three runs. After that, we kind of hit a lull, but we played better toward the end of the game.”

Brittany Koester, who was 2-for-3 at the plate to lead all batters, later drove in two runs with a base hit. Montei also drove in a run.

Myers pitched a complete game, facing 23 batters and only allowing two hits and one walk. Hartsville’s Danielle Johnson led off the first inning with a single and Skylar Pate had a hit in the seventh inning.