The Bull Run District was a two horse race last year in softball between Clarke County and Madison County. An ever improving young William Monroe squad is looking to change that this year. Friday night they took a big step forward.. With a huge 2-out rally in the third inning and a solid night in the circle from pitcher McKenzie Flora, the Dragons picked up a pivotal district win, 8-2, its first ever against the Eagles.
“We hit the ball very hard tonight,” said Monroe coach Chad Roach. “Clarke is a great defensive team and that was good to hit the ball hard, make them make plays. And our pitching was just phenomenal tonight. We’ve worked all week on teamwork and communication, team building skills. I think it showed tonight.”
After drawing first blood in the bottom of the first on a walk to Bailey Wayland and an RBI single from MaKayla Morris, the Dragons raced out ahead of Clarke in the third.
Monroe started the 5-run rally with two outs, but after Storey Collier was hit by a pitch the Dragons’ bats in the middle of the order came to life. After another single from MaKayla Morris, Lindsey Morris ripped a 2-run double. Brianna Wimer then reached base on an error before she was driven in on a double from Kaitlin Bishop. In the next at-bat, Kelsie Short’s single brought in two more runs to make it 6-0.
From there it was up to Flora and the Monroe defense and both came through. The Dragons turned a 6-4-3 double play to end a Clarke threat in the top of the fourth and Flora finished the game with seven strike outs to just two walks, giving up no earned runs along the way.
“Lindsey Morris and I have been (a battery) together all the way growing up so we go out there knowing what we want to do,” Flora said. “Having the lead meant a lot because you’re able to control the game after that.”
A double from Wayland and an RBI triple for Lindsey Morris made it 7-0 in the fourth. Clarke picked up both its runs in the sixth on a a single, an error and a 2-run single from Sarah Miller. Monroe responded by making a 6-run game in the bottom half of the sixth with back-to-back singles from Wayland and Collier before Wayland eventually took home on a wild pitch. That proved to be more than enough to preserve the win.
Offensively Wayland was 3 for 3 with three runs scored and a walk. Collier was 2 for 2 with a run scored. MaKayla Morris finished 2 for 3 with a run scored. Lindsey Morris had two of her team’s four extra base hits to go 2-4 with a run scored.
Monre (6-0, 3-0) heads to George Mason on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
