Tony Vining knows his young team is bound to make a few errors every now and then.
So when the Catholic Lady Falcons of Huntsville scored six runs in the second inning Saturday afternoon in the Athens Bible School Invitational tournament, Vining didn’t worry. When the inning ended, the Athens Bible softball coach, walked out of the dugout and challenged his team.
“Let’s get the bats going and score 10 runs this inning,” Vining told them.
Though the Lady Trojans didn’t get 10, they did score five runs to pull within one of the Lady Falcons.
Courtney Etheredge got the rally going with a leadoff single to start the bottom of the inning. Stefanie McClure followed with a single. CeCi Ivey drew a walk to load the bases and a fielder’s choice by Abby Malone scored Etheredge. Chelsea Burgess’ single scored McClure and Ivey, pulling Athens Bible within three. A triple by Haley Chittam scored Burgess and a sacrifice fly by Allie McCurry scored Chittam.
“We didn’t play very well,” Vining said. “Catholic hit the ball real well. It wasn’t pretty, but it was a win. Our kids kept plugging along and decided they wanted to play at the end. They really try to respond, but realistically, it’s hard to get that with us being so young, but they do well and give us everything they’ve got.”
Athens Bible held Catholic scoreless in the third and fourth innings before taking the lead in the bottom half of the fourth.
Burgess started the last inning rally, reaching on an error and stealing second and third. Haley Chittam and McCurry both reached base on a walk. Brooke Chittam drew a walk to score Burgess, tying the game at seven. A fielder’s choice by Etheredge scored Haley Chittam to give the Lady Trojans the 8-7 win.
Andrea George went the distance for Athens Bible, hurling four innings, striking out one and allowing five hits.
In the championship game, the Lady Trojans defeated Skyline 16-6.
Burgess was 2-for-4 with a triple and RBI. Haley Chittam was 3-for-4 with three singles and an RBI. McCurry was 3-for-4 with a double, single and RBI. Brooke Chittam was 3-for-3 with a triple and two RBIs. Etheredge was 2-for-3 with a single and double; Natalie Anderson was 1-for-3 with an RBI; Ceci Ivey was 1-for-3 with a double and RBI; Stefanie McClure was 2-for-3 with a triple and RBI, while Abby Malone finished 1-for-3.
George picked up the win, pitching 4 1/2 innings, striking out three, while allowing five hits.
Athens Bible is in action again Thursday at Valley Head.
Sports
Related Photos
-
News Courier/Ashley Hargrove
Discussion
ABS wins own tourney
- Sports
-
-
Looking forward...
Soccer season cannot get here fast enough for Ramon Jurado. The Athens junior lost his home during the deadly string of tornadoes that scarred Alabama last April. Like others effected by the storms, Jurado remembers every detail of that ill-fated spring day.
-
Green leads Alabama past Auburn 68-50
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Shorthanded Alabama still managed to make a little history against rival Auburn.
JaMychal Green scored 19 points, Trevor Releford added 15 and the Crimson Tide raced to a 68-50 win on Tuesday night.
-
Mayor calls New York City 'Big Blue Apple' for Giants' win
The team was introduced with thunderous applause from the lucky 250 fans who got tickets to a ceremony at City Hall Plaza, where the Giants were honored with symbolic keys to the city.
-
Charge against ex-Alabama CB Kirkpatrick dropped
Kirkpatrick was arrested on Jan. 17 after Palmetto, Fla., police stopped a car driven by another former Alabama player, Chris Rogers, for driving on the wrong side of the road.
-
Local teams set to host area tournaments
Athens basketball fans will get a double dose of postseason play beginning Thursday as the boys and girls teams are set to host area tournaments. Eddie Murphree’s girls team will start tournament play Thursday when they host Muscle Shoals at 7:30. The winner advances to the area championship Saturday at 7 p.m.
-
SLIDESHOW: Giants beat Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI
The New York Giants won their fourth NFL championship Sunday in Indianapolis, scoring in the final minute to defeat New England 21-17.
-
Giants top Pats for 2nd Super Bowl in 4 years
-
Slumping Alabama trying to salvage NCAA spot
A recent four-game losing streak and slumping star Tony Mitchell have left a Crimson Tide team once ranked as high as No. 11 needing a strong finish to end a six-year NCAA drought.
-
NFL works to protect copyright, as Brady admits illegal viewing
NFL Super Bowl officials were hoping to score some major media attention with the arrest of a "web pirate" accused of illegally streaming sporting events over the Internet. They ended up with news stories that led with Super Bowl-bound quarterback Tom Brady admitting he watched last year’s NFL championship game on an illegal website.
-
VIDEO: NFL Experience a hit with Super Bowl fans
The NFL's interactive theme park pre-sold more than 65,000 tickets for Super Bowl week and has become the destination of choice for visitors to Indianapolis.
- More Sports Headlines
-
White House Attacks Romney on Birth Control
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Mo. Teen Gets Life Sentence for Killing Girl, 9
Lower-hassle Screening to Be Tested at Airports
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Helmet Camera Captures Calif. Fire Rescue
Worker Tells 911: Powell 'exploded the House'
Triple Win: Santorum Takes Minn., Mo., Colo.
Injured Marine Inspired by Homecoming
No Rape Charges Against Son of NYPD Commissioner
Egypt's Ruling Generals Play Risky Game With US
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
Cab Driver Helps Wis. Family Escape House Fire
Staff Removed at LA School During Abuse Probe
Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
