crown at Spring Fling

By STEVEN G. WATSON

Sports Editor

The Charles Henderson Lady Trojans threw down the gauntlet last weekend to the area’s finest and defended their Spring Fling Championship with flying colors.

At the Annual Dothan Tournament, the Lady Trojans did pick up their first loss of the season to Demopolis, but made up for it taking two from DHS overall and defending their title from last year’s fast-pitch tournament.

"We played them three times, we score 21 runs and they scored seven," CHHS head coach Steve Haug said. "I think the first championship game we had been waiting three hours to play and we were a little stale. We ended up not hitting as well as we were capable of, but in the second game we just ate them up.

"Really, they got the runs they needed throughout the entire tournament," Haug added. "We didn’t blow anybody away besides Demopolis. Every game was actually pretty close."

CHHS star pitcher Betsy White was a first inning walk away from a perfect game, but picked up the no-hitter in a 9-0 win over Demopolis in the semifinals. The win marked fourth-straight win in a tournament that saw the Lady Trojans play six games in only two days, something Haug feels helps his squad prepare for bigger things to come.

"It helps you because it gets you tournament ready," Haug said. "The more tournament ready you are at the end and into the state tournament the better. When you get there, everybody has been playing all season and it’s all about who can last the longest."

Demopolis got the 4-2 win to force a second and final championship game, but the last laugh belonged to the Charles Henderson girls. The Lady Trojans jumped out to an early 8-1 lead and rolled to an easy 10-3 victory to retain their Spring Fling title.

Ashley Faust led the team at the plate over the weekend with two great games in the two wins over DHS. The senior went 5-for-8 in the two games, notching an incredible four doubles and five total RBI’s.

CHHS 9, Catholic 2

Monday, the Lady Trojans got back to their winning ways with a 9-2 domination of the Lady Knights of Catholic.

While things were slow in the beginning offensively, CHHS blew up in the bottom of the third with six runs on two singles by Christine Haug and Emily Christian and a double by Amanda Pruitt. The big inning put the Lady Trojans up 8-0.

Then, with Emily Watkins taking over for White on the mound in the top of the fourth, the Lady Trojans got some time in for some of their substitute players.

Catholic did manage to avoid an early ending to the contest staving off the mercy rule in the Top of the fifth with two runs, but it would only delay the inevitable as the Lady Trojans went on to win their eighth game of the season.

Elizabeth Roundtree had a double playing in relief at second base and Watkins struck out five in her four innings pitched.

The Lady Trojans will play again on Thursday on the road against Lee in Montgomery. The first pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.