Published: July 20, 2006 12:07 am      

Russell-Flatwoods captures softball title

London — Russell-Flatwoods used an 11-run fifth inning to pull away from South London and capture the 9-10-year-old State Softball Tournament at North Laurel on Wednesday.

Mallory Powell struck out 10 South London batters to lead the charge for Russell-Flatwoods, also contributing to her own cause by singling and scoring twice.

Darbi Parsons and Lexi Barry each scored twice for Russell-Flatwoods, which had six hits and took advantage of two South London errors in the key inning.

In the 11-12-year-old championship, Russell-Flatwoods fell 5-1 to Valley Sport.

Valley scored a run in the first and added four in the third to take a 5-0 lead before Russell-Flatwoods answered with a run in the bottom of the third. The teams went scoreless over the next three innings.

Jordan Smith scored the only Russell-Flatwoods run in the game as Valley pitcher Kelsey Hicks held Russell-Flatwoods to just one hit.

“We just didn’t hit the ball. We put it in play, but we didn’t hit it hard and we hit it at them,” coach Phil Cassity said. “We had runners on every inning, but we just couldn’t do anything with them. We never got that big hit.”

Cassity said it was a strong showing for his team.

“To get to the state championship game is something to be proud of,” he said.

The 11-12-year-olds were playing for a spot in the Central Region Tournament in Joplin, Mo. There are no regional tournaments in the 9-10-year-old division.



9-10-year-old State Tournament

At North Laurel

Championship

Russell-Flatwoods 13, South London 3 (5 innings)

RF 002 0(11)—13 8 1

SL 002 10—3 2 3



11-12-year-old State Tournament

At North Laurel

Championship

Valley Sport 5, Russell-Flatwoods 1

VS 104 000—5 7 1

RF 001 000—1 0 3