In softball and baseball in the box score ‘K’ stands for strikeout, in the Alcovy vs. Rockdale game it stood for Kalia Johnson. Standing strong at 13-2, and an undefeated 7-0 in region play, the Alcovy softball team showed no mercy against Rockdale (4-11, 1-5 Region 2-AAAAAA) run-ruling them 9-0 after five innings as Johnson threw seven K’s.
Alcovy set the tempo in the first inning, as the Tigers scored five quick runs to take an early lead and eventually the game. Tyra Hollingsworth started it off with a bunt. Hollingsworth sped down the first base line, and it looked as if she’d get thrown out, but the ball was missed at first and Hollingsworth used her speed to make it to third on the passed ball.
Hollingsworth was driven in by Aubree Thacker, and the Tigers swiftly went up 1-0. Next up to bat was Raven Smith. Smith dropped a blooper single in centerfield to score Thacker. Smith then stole second with Kalia Johnson at bat. Johnson dropped a blooper of her own behind third to score Smith, and give the Tigers a 3-0 cushion.
Johnson eventually scored on a passed ball and for the Tigers fifth and final run of the inning, Emma Waddell was batted in by another player.
If you blinked in the bottom half of the first inning, then you might have missed it. Johnson came out dealing and the Bulldogs went out three up and three down, with two of the outs being strikeouts.
The Bulldogs were able to settle down in the second inning, and made some great plays to allow just one hit in the inning.
Johnson had an even better second inning, as she K’d up three Bulldog players in a row to keep the Tigers up 5-0.
Alcovy got its offense going again in the third. Jordyn White and Madison Beazley started the inning off with a single for both of them. Both White and Beazley managed to steal third and second respectively. White would later score on passed ball at home. Rockdale responded getting the next three batters out, and getting out of the inning safely.
Rockdale wasn’t going to allow Johnson to leave its home field with a no-hitter. Two batters managed to get a single in the inning before Johnson struck out two, and the last popped out to end the inning.
The Bulldogs brought in a new pitcher in the fourth, but it didn’t make a difference to the Tigers. Thacker blasted one deep to right and the ball was misplayed, allowing Thacker to get a triple. Smith walked and Johnson would hit them both in after taking one deep to left for an 8-0 lead.
Rockdale couldn’t get anything going in the fourth or fifth, and one more run from the Tigers at the top of the fifth was all that was needed to get Alcovy its seventh win in the region.
The Tigers will take on Newton Thursday for a big region showdown, as the Lady Rams are 5-1 in the region and remain in second place behind Alcovy.
