Sikeston Standard Democrat: High School Sports: Dock one-hits Poplar Bluff (09/24/08)

Kelly pitcher Danielle Dock delivers a pitch to a Poplar Bluff hitter Tuesday afternoon. Dock pitched a one-hitter in a 5-0 Lady Hawks win.
(Photos by David Jenkins, Staff)

Kelly uses big fifth inning to put away Poplar Bluff

BENTON -- If the Kelly Lady Hawks are ever in need of scoring runs they could wait until the later innings, especially the fifth inning.

The Lady Hawks scored four runs in the fifth to give them a solid lead over the Poplar Bluff Mules on Tuesday that would seal the 5-0 win.

Kelly's Brittany Brantley slides into home plate as the ball gets away from Poplar Bluff catcher Kelly Kelm in the fifth inning Tuesday afternoon in Benton.

"This year it is the fifth inning and sure enough they made it happen," Kelly head coach Rhonda Ratledge said. "Hey, if it works, it works. Whatever they want to believe in."

Kelly had already scored one run in the bottom of the first inning off of a Haley Glastetter double. She later crossed home plate when she advanced on a two-base error. But, most of the damage came later in the fifth inning.

Danielle Dock and Brittany Brantley started it all off with two consecutive hits. After being moved up to second and third by a ground out from Carissa Klipfel, Dock scored on a wild pitch and Brantley scored on an error to give Kelly a three run lead. Kristen Powell advanced to first on another Poplar Bluff error and eventually scored. As did Heather Beggs but she was driven in on a two out single by Katee Moore for the only RBI in the game.

Kelly's Heather Beggs puts down a bunt against Poplar Bluff Tuesday afternoon in Benton. Beggs scored one run in the game.

"They (Poplar Bluff) played a good defensive game against us for the first four innings," Ratledge said. "Then the girls got their bunts down and got things happening then we were able to push some runs across the plate and rattle them a little bit."

It also didn't hurt that Dock pitched a one-hitter for the Lady Hawks. She pitched all seven innings allowing three walks and hit one batter. She also struck out six.

"That's probably the best pitcher we've faced all year," Poplar Bluff head coach Dusty Benson. "She's talented."

Poplar Bluff did manage to get runners on base besides the one hit, but Benson felt like the execution of certain plays was the reason for the loss.

"I actually feel like we hit the ball fairly well considering we couldn't put together back-to-back hits," Benson said. "Someone would get on base and we couldn't advance her. A couple times we tried to bunt someone over but we just couldn't execute the play. We really didn't deserve to win because we couldn't execute."

Ashlee Mattox got the only hit for the Lady Mules. It was a single in the second inning.

Glastetter led Kelly with two hits and one run. Moore, Dock and Brantley each had one hit a piece to round out the offense for the Lady Hawks.