EMPORIA — Down 4-0, Humboldt High’s Lady Cubs were not going away easily. They struck for four runs in the top of the fourth to tie their first-round game at the 2011 Kansas Class 2-1A State Softball Tournament.
Udall High’s Eagles responded with three runs of their own in the fourth to regain a lead. The eventual state champion Eagles held off the hard-charging Lady Cubs for a 7-5 win Friday.
Humboldt scored a run in the fifth to make it a two-run game. The Lady Cubs had runners on in the top of the seventh but the rally ended, as did their run at the state tournament.
“We fought back to tie the game. I was proud of the girls for not giving up,” said Brad Piley, Humboldt head softball coach.
“If we just could have gotten the bats going a little earlier in the game, it might have been a different outcome.”
Sophomore Kylee Carson made an impact on the game for the Lady Cubs. Carson hit a three-run home run over the center field fence in the fourth inning.
“That fired us up,” Piley said. The Lady Cubs produced another run to make it 4-4.
Udall scored two runs in the first inning and two more in the third. The Eagles broke the 4-all tie with three runs in the fourth.
Melissa Davidson, a senior, was the losing pitcher in the game. She allowed nine hits, walked two and struck out three.
“Melissa pitched a great game,” Piley said.
The other senior on the roster, Taylor Fitzmaurice hit two singles and had three stolen bases in the game. Davidson had two base hits.
Carson also had a double in the contest. Julie Seibert hit a single and a double. Kayle Riebel and Morgan Morris each had a base hit.
The Lady Cubs finished at 13-11 for the season.
Udall went on to beat Ell-Saline 4-3 in the semfiinals then rolled to a 9-2 victory over Salina-Sacred Heart in the championship game.
Jayhawk-Linn High of Mound City beat Valley Falls 3-1 in the opening round Friday. The Jayhawks dropped a 9-3 decision to Sacred Heart in the semifinals. The Jayhawks won the third-place game, beating Ell-Saline 9-5.
Lady Cubs fall Friday at state
