Marshall County wins two of five games

By Justin McGill
Tribune-Courier Managing Editor
jmcgill@tribunecourier.com

DRAFFENVILLE – As the Marshall County Sluggfest ended, the Lady Marshals were left with a 6-6 record and game experience against some of Kentucky, Illinois and Tennessee’s top teams.

On Friday, MCHS lost 3-1 to Cobden, Tenn., and 4-1 to Martin Westview, Tenn. Saturday, the Lady Marshals bounced back with a 7-0 win over Lincoln County to give then the No. 8 seed in Saturday night’s tournament. MCHS notched a 4-0 victory over Waverly, Tenn. in the first round before losing 2-1 to Grayson County, the top seed in the tournament and the No. 2-rated team in Kentucky.

Grayson scored in the first inning and kept MCHS off the board until the top of the seventh. With the game tied after regulation, the international tiebreaker rule went into effect. In the eighth inning, each team started at bat with the last out from the previous inning on second base. MCHS was unable to drive the run in, and Grayson did to win the game.

MCHS head coach Jennifer Burnham said the Lady Marshals’ even record is not a surprise considering the higher level of competition they have scheduled for 2008.

“We could easily be sitting here 0-12,” Burnham said. “That’s how tough our schedule is. In tough situations against these tough opponents, we have come out with big plays, but we have to execute when the other teams don’t. It can only help us in the end.”

“Grayson was a huge team for us to play,” Burnham said. “One of those runs they got on an error, and that’s so frustrating.”

Marshall County struck out 17 times, seven of which came with a full count.

Grayson County 2,
Marshall County 1
(8 innings)
Saturday @ Draffenville

Marshall County 000 000 10 – 1 1 2
Grayson County 100 000 01 – 2 7 0

TEAM STATS
Pitching MCHS: Butler –
8 IP
Hitting MCHS: Moore –
double

MCHS advanced to face Grayson, which received a bye in the first round, after defeating Waverly 4-0. Butler struck out five, and Helton was perfect at the plate – 3-for-3 with three runs driven in.

Marshall County 4,
Waverly 0
Saturday @ Draffenville

Waverly 000 000 0 – 0 1 1
Marshall County 000 301 x – 4 7 0

TEAM STATS
Pitching MCHS: Butler –
7 IP, 5 K, 2 BB
Hitting MCHS: Helton –
3-3, 3 RBI
Ray – 2-3

Marshall County’s most impressive win of the tournament came in a 7-0 drubbing of Lincoln County. Helton pitched a shutout and allowed only one hit. The Lady Marshals had no trouble scoring, and shortstop Careece Martin brought MCHS fans to their feet with a 2-run home run in the fifth inning. It was Martin’s first career round-tripper.

Martin said the homer should serve as a confidence booster after a slow start to her season.

“Hopefully, I can get going now,” Martin said. “I know I’m expected to be a leader this season, so I’m hoping I can be that person. This should be a stepping stone for that.”

Marshall County 7,
Lincoln County 0
Saturday @ Draffenville

Lincoln County 000 000 – 0 1 3
Marshall County 110 221 – 7 5 0

TEAM STATS
Pitching MCHS: Helton –
6 IP, 1 K
Hitting MCHS: Martin –
1-2, HR, 2 RBI, 2
runs
Gilland – 1-3, run,
RBI
Denfip – 3-3, run,
RBI
The win over Cobden came with Helton on the mound for the first time this season, allowing only one run and striking out one in six innings of work.

Cobden 3,
Marshall County 1
Friday @ Draffenville

Marshall County 000 000 1 – 1 4 2
Marshall County 000 012 x – 3 5 0

TEAM STATS
Pitching MCHS: Helton –
6 IP, 1 K
Hitting MCHS: Helton –
1-3, run
Martin – 1-3, RBI

Marshall’s first lost of the tournament was against Martin Westview, the team that eventually lost to Grayson County in the Sluggfest championship game.

Martin Westview 4, Marshall County 1
Friday @ Draffenville

Marshall County 000 100 – 1 3 1
Martin Westview 002 02x – 4 9 0

TEAM STATS
Pitching MCHS: Butler –
5 IP, 1 K
Hitting MCHS: Lovett –
2-2, RBI

“Traditionally, when you host a tournament, you give yourself a really easy pool,” Burnham said. “I didn’t do that, and I’d do it the same way if I had it to do again. You are who you play.”

Burnham said a lot of people deserve credit for the success of this year’s Sluggfest, especially those who helped make the field at MCHS and the three fields at Mike Miller Park ready for play.

“None of this could happen without the support of the parents and the Booster program,” Burnham said. “They were so instrumental in how this tournament ran. It’s a good fundraiser for our program, and it’s good for the community”