By Rob Potter
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS — Midway through Thursday night’s Sullivan County Women’s Softball League “A” Division game at Gary A. Bradley Field at the White Sulphur Springs Firemen’s Park, Charlie’s Angels trailed L&B Tack by the score of 5-1.
But by scoring three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, Charlie’s Angels rallied for an 8-5 win.
L&B Tack took its 5-1 lead by scoring two runs in the top of the fourth inning. Holli Schoonmaker led off the frame with an infield hit. She scored moments later when Doreen Dailey singled to left field. Tini Kaiser crossed home plate when Autumn Ackermann reached base on a fielder’s choice to give L&B Tack the four-run advantage.
But Charlie’s Angels answered with three runs in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 5-4 game. With two outs and two teammates on base, Laura Monell doubled to left field. Leanne Mangabang scored on the hit to cut the L&B Tack lead to 5-2.
Karyn Sheeley then singled to left field, which allowed Tonya Martin and Monell to cross home plate.
Charlie’s Angels tied the score and took the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Mangabang and Martin led off the frame with consecutive singles. Heidi Blade-Hewlett then singled to left field, which enabled Mangabang to score the game-tying run.
After Monell singled to load the bases, Sheeley hit a single to left field. Martin and Blade-Hewlett both scored on the base hit to give Charlie’s Angels a 7-5 advantage.
Monell scored the final run of the game when Lisa Krom singled to right field.
L&B Tack tried to rally in the top of the seventh. With two outs and teammate Jamie Hopkins on base, Danielle Dailey singled to center field to keep the inning going.
But Charlie’s Angels pitcher Krom got the next batter to hit a pop fly which third baseman Jessica Bradley caught to end the game.
L&B Tack had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Liz Stubits singled and scored on a single by Barb Merton.
Charlie’s Angels evened the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the first. Mangabang doubled and then scored when Martin hit a triple.
The score did not remain tied for long, however, as L&B Tack recorded two runs in the top of the second to grab a 3-1 advantage. Schoonmaker scored on an error and Kaiser scored on a single by Karen Smith.
With the win, Charlie’s Angels improved its season record to 14-0. L&B Tack fell to 11-3 on the season.
“They played hard,” L&B Tack Coach Doug Gosney said of the team’s players. “We just didn’t get it done today.
“We still have a very good shot of making the playoffs,” Gosney added.
Charlie’s Angels Player/Coach Joanne Walls was pleased to see her team rally for the win.
“It was a big game and it was a big comeback for us,” she said. “It was a good game. They played good and we played good.”
Walls especially praised Karyn Sheeley, who filled in at shortstop because the team’s regular starting shortstop, Shannon Dietrich, could not attend the game.
“Karyn Sheeley did a great job for us at shortstop tonight,” Walls said.
Walls was also happy to see several players have good hits in the game.
“Our bats have been flat the last five or six games,” she said.