State Champions: The Quad wins with ease
ALSC Lady Fastpitch Softball 2023 State Champions.
Front L-R Trinity Davis, Savannah Evans, Katelyn Church, Whittney Turner, Savanna Parker, MacKenzie Kubas, Tatum Weaver, Jaysha McCullough
Back– Chairman ALSC SC Lady Fastpitch Softball Bob Scherer, 4th Vice Commander Russ Cantrell, Ashton Goodwin, Alyssa Poston, Department Commander Jim Kvan, Olivia Martin, Cayton Thompson, Ramzee Williams, 1st Vice Commander Bruce Donegan, Dakota Melancone, Averie Easters, Coach Chris Weaver, Coach Madie Andrews and Coach Lee Andrews. PHOTO BY PHYLLIS CAPLES
The Quad’s, Caydon Thompson, hits a homerun in the State Championship game.
L to R :Trinity Davis, Whittney Turner, Ashton Goodwin, & Olivia Martin Celebrating after Trophy Presentation. PHOTOS BY PHYLLIS CAPLES
Savanna Parker celebrates homerun with team.
Second baseman, Katelyn Church, caught in a rundown.
The Quad celebrates after winning the State Championship game.
By Don Gearhart
With Alyssa Poston on the mound, usually a couple of runs is all you need to secure a victory. The Quad wasted little time providing her with a cushion. In fact, a leadoff single by Poston in the bottom of the first inning ignited a three-run spurt that would prove to be enough. After stealing second, Poston came around to score when Olivia Martin’s grounder to short was thrown away attempting to get an out at first. As Poston crossed the plate with the initial run, Martin scampered to second on the errant throw. She wasn’t there for long when Caydon Thompson lifted a fly ball to left that just cleared the fence for a two-run homer and The Quad led 3-0 after one inning.
That score held through four innings as Poston retired the first twelve batters, nine by strikeout. Two infield pop ups and an unsuccessful bunt attempt were all the Lady Bombers from Post 14 in Anderson could muster.
Post 14 finally broke up the no-hit bid with a bloop single in the top of the fifth, but Poston answered by striking out the next three batters. The Quad added to their lead in the bottom of the inning fueled by two fielding errors, Poston’s hot grounder to second went through the second baseman for a three-base error as the speedy Poston flew around the bases. Katelyn Church grounded to third but was safe on a throwing error with Poston scoring on the play. Martin then doubled into the right-center gap to drive Church across the plate and The Quad took a 5-0 lead into the sixth.
Poston made quick work of the Lady Bombers in the top of the sixth inning with a ground out to second, an infield pop up sandwiched around her thirteenth strikeout of the contest. Pinch hitter, Avarie Easters, walked with one out in the bottom of the sixth and scored when Savannah Parker drilled a long homerun to right-center. Trinity Davis was safe when another infield error was committed. After Poston’s grounder to third was also booted, Davis scored on a pinch hit single from MaKenzie Kubas. The three-run inning boosted the score to 8-0 with just one inning to play.
Laney Jennings broke up the shutout when she guessed right on the first pitch in the top of the seventh. Her home run excited the Anderson faithful but it was a matter of too little, too late. The homer didn’t phase Poston as she struck out the next three batters to end the game and give her a total of sixteen strikeouts for the game. The Quad’s seven hits were spread out over seven different players as a testament to the depth they displayed all year with a 22-0 season record. They also played errorless defense on the night.
