Marlboro County hands Union Belles first loss

Local team to play today at 4 p.m. to find out who will be in championship game

By Tiffany Grady-Hudgins

Contributing Writer

Marlboro County put an end to Union County’s winning streak in what was an extremely close game on Tuesday evening in the 2010 Dixie Girls State Tournament.

The score remained tied at 2-2 from the third inning through the top of the seventh and then Marlboro County loaded the bases, forcing a play at home.

Union got the first out of the inning at home plate, but failed to deliver a second time as a Marlboro County player drove in the winning run and a 3-2 victory.

Union had hits from Abby Allen, Tiffany Vaughan, Andrea Eison, Logan Wade and Katie Melton. Tiffany Vaughan took the loss for Union, pitching six of the seven innings while her twin sister, Ashley, pitched one inning of relief.

Between the two, Union gave up seven hits with three errors.

“Things didn’t go our way tonight,” said Belles assistant coach, Jerry Foster. “We have to come back tomorrow and play hard. Marlboro came out tonight determined and we may have needed this loss to get the girls fired up again. They know now that they can’t lay back if they want to win. We told the girls to leave this loss on the field, and stay in the present. We get to come back tomorrow and go at it again.”

The resilient Union team expects to return today ready to play ball.

“It would be wonderful for us to win the State Championship in this new Timken Sports Complex and represent our town well.” Foster said. “It’s something they’d never forget.”

After the game, a coin toss determined Lancaster to be the benefactor of a bye, pitting Union County against Marlboro County once again today (Wednesday, July 21) at 4 p.m.

The winner will play Lancaster in the Championship game after a one hour rest period.

Following the coin toss, the Union County Belles gathered for a post-game conference, following which they yelled out in unison, “It ain’t over, Union County rules!”

Union Ponytails eliminated from state tourney

By JOE PETTIT

Contributing Writer

The Union Ponytails were only defeated after fighting every inning along the way on Tuesday night in state tournament action.

Sumter downed Union by a score of 1–0.

It was a game dominated by pitching from both sides.

Union pitcher Hannah Sailors pitched a gem Tuesday night at the Timken Sports Complex, but her team would not be able to put any runs on the board.

“I’m real proud of them. They played their hearts out, we just couldn’t get the scores. And Hannah pitched a great game,” said Union Ponytails head coach Audra Scott.

South Carolina’s National Dixie Girls Director Ralph Henson commented on this year’s Ponytails.

“There has been great talent out here all week with the Debs, Belles and Ponytails,” Henson said. “But this is one of the most talented Ponytails I’ve ever seen.”

Both teams were scoreless until Sumter scored its first — and what would prove to be the deciding run — in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Sumter scored on a Union error for the game’s only run.

Union rallied often by putting runners in scoring position in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings. The team gained momentum after a heads up double play to end Sumter’s rally in the bottom of the fifth.

The team would ride this energy into the final and decisive sixth inning.

Connor Medford battled back after being behind in the count and she would take the payoff pitch for a lead off walk. Two outs later, Cassie Horne reached base on an error by Sumter’s pitcher. The two Union base runners would never reach home plate as Union would not be able to muster anything else to survive in tournament play.

Sumter advances to the tournament’s final day today (Wednesday, July 21) to play Landrum at 4 p.m. at the Timken Sports Complex.