By Greg Young
Annandale High School Senior, DigitalSports Intern
Within the South County and Madison softball game, two unique styles of pitching were put on full display.
For the Stallions, sophomore Chelsey Dunham’s dominated hitters, only allowing three hits and two walks in the game. On the other side for Madison, senior Kacie Goddard wasn’t quite as dominant but was equally effective, making clutch pitches when she needed to, allowing 16 hits but escaping 2 bases-loaded jams.
With such efficiency from the pitching circle, the game kept going. And going.
Seven innings wasn’t enough to separate the two teams in this Northern Region first-round game. Neither was eight or nine or 10, for that matter. As the extra innings passed, still locked in a scoreless tie, even tthe South County scoreboard became so filled with zero’s that it had to be reset.
“I just had to keep my energy up,” Dunham said. “I just kept moving as fast as I could.”
But finally, in the bottom of the 12th inning, South County was able to end the game on its own terms. With runners on first and second base, sophomore Michelle Boynton singled in the game-winning run, ending an exciting game between the two softball powerhouses.
“I had to keep confidence up in my swings,” said Boynton, who finished 2-for-4 with two walks.
Boynton also had the game-winning hit in South County’s win over West Springfield in the Patriot District championship game.
Dunham’s role against Madison wasn’t only to pitch. Not only did
she eventually enter the game as a hitter and go 3-for-3, she also led
the South County cheering during the game.
“She’s a motivated, self-starting pitcher,” South County Coach Al Thompson said. “Because of her work ethic, she can go on forever.”
The Stallions now advance to face Herndon, which defeated Mount Vernon, 13-0, in its first-round game. The Hornets are 15-8 on the season. For South County, the win meant more than just advancing to the regional quarterfinals. It also, the Stallions hope, earned respect for Patriot District softball.
“It is a little frustrating because the Patriot District gets no respect,” Thompson said. “These girls have worked since February. To them, it didn’t matter what inning it was.”
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