Midway’s softball team hosted Clinton on Tuesday night hoping to put an end to a two game skid. The Lady Raiders were able to do just that, storming past the visiting Dark Horses in a 15-5 victory.

Midway got things started in the bottom for the first, sprinting out to a 3-0 lead before ever recording an out, as Leah Williams, JJ Sankey, and Laura Person all scored. Midway would eventually also bring around Hannah Lucas and Hailey Brooke West before Clinton would finally put an end to the spurt. Midway was leading 5-0 after the first.

The Lady Horses responded in the second inning, picking up two runs in the top half of the inning. Sydney Simmons drew a walk to begin the inning and would take second on a stolen base. Tori Johnson singled to center, bringing Simmons around for the score. In the exchange, Johnson was able to reach second, who then took third on a passed ball. Amber Strickland hit into a ground out, but was able to score Johnson. The top of the inning would end with Clinton now only trailing 5-2.

Midway was able to go on another rally in the bottom half of the inning, getting back to the two runs they had surrendered. With two outs, and Lucas standing on second base following a single and stolen base, Alyssa Wrench fired a shot into deep left center for a triple, but was able to make it all way home after an errant throw in. The Lady Raiders would go on to load the bases with two outs, but Clinton denied any further damage after getting the force out following a grounder back to the pitcher. Midway was now back in front 7-2.

Clinton was able to add another run in the top of the third after Callie Sumner drove a shot into right field. The ball was misplayed and rolled toward the fence, allowing Sumner’s speed to bring her safely around the bases, cutting Midway’s lead to 7-3.

Midway’s bats were just too much for Clinton to handle as Midway scored three more runs in the bottom of the third inning. Sankey led the inning off with a single and was then brought in by Person by way an in the park home-run. Later in the inning with two outs, Abby Baggett earned an RBI after bring Hailey Brooke West in for the run. Midway now led 10-3.

Midway made it 11-3 in the bottom of the fourth after Kayley Hawley, who had singled to start the inning, was scored on a Kalee Martin ground out at first.

Clinton added their final two runs in the top of the fifth inning after Sumner was able to score Maccailyn Sessoms and Jessica Hamilton on a single to center field, bringing the score to 11-5.

One final Raider spurt allowed Midway to generate the four runs needed to achieve the 10-run mercy rule to end the game. Alexis Jackson drew a walk to begin the inning who was then advanced to second after an infield throwing error. Wrench then singled to load the bases with no outs. Baggett would pick up a couple of RBIs after hitting a single into left center, scoring Jackson and West. With two outs, Martin stepped up to the plate and and recorded the game’s final hit, Baggett and Hawley to push the tally to the final score of 15-5.

After the game, Midway head coach Leigh Ann Smith was pleased with the victory and the different opportunities her team was presented with. “We hit the ball a lot better tonight and were able to try some things we haven’t been able to try”. She said. “Some pitchers pitched that hadn’t got any pitching time, let a girl catch that hadn’t got any catching time,” she concluded.

Clinton head coach Todd Slater admitted that his team has much to improve on. “I saw more fight out of the ladies tonight than I have in previous games, but we’re struggling communicating and playing as a team.”

With the win, Midway improves to 5-3 overall and 2-1 in the Four County Conference. They are right back in action on Wednesday at Wallace-Rose Hill at 6 p.m.

Clinton drops to 1-7 overall and 0-3 in the conference. They travel to Union on Thursday for a 6 p.m. contest.

Reach Daron Barefoot at [email protected]

By Daron Barefoot

Sports Writer