Meadows no-hits Gators

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on April 9, 2008 3:24 PM

• Print
• Email

Although Spring Creek put runners aboard in five of seven innings Tuesday evening, the Gators couldn't get a hit.

Haile Meadows made sure of it.

The Rosewood hurler mixed her pitches well and held Spring Creek hitless in a 7-0, Class 1-A Carolina Conference softball victory. Meadows posted a season-high 12 strikeouts and retired 10 consecutive batters during three-plus innings.

"That was great," said first-year Rosewood coach Tracey Meadows. "She's thrown the ball well this season and I've been very pleased with that."

Meadows, a second-year starter in the pitcher's circle, issued two walks and hit three batters. The Gators (1-8 overall, 0-2 Carolina) knocked just one ball out of the infield, which resulted in a flyout to center fielder Cristina Bruton.

A junior, Meadows induced four groundouts and two pop-ups on bunt attempts in the 93-minute contest.

"We were passive (at the plate)," said first-year Gators coach Brandon Proctor. "Hitting is something we've struggled a little bit with this year, but we'll come along. Some of the girls are young.

"Hat's off to their pitcher because she threw a very good game."

Rosewood (2-7, 1-1) got the lone run it needed in the opening inning.

Meadows popped up in the infield, but the Gators couldn't make the play. A wild pitch and another infield error allowed Meadows to score for the 1-0 lead.

The Eagles, who snapped a three-game losing streak, capitalized on more Spring Creek miscues in the third inning. Four errors, a passed ball and two hits parlayed into a three-run uprising.

"Same story," lamented Proctor. "We preach every practice and every game that you have to make the routine plays to win the ball game."

Rosewood sealed the outcome with a three-run, fifth-inning outburst. Alyssa Hill cranked out an RBI single, while Jessica Price (2-for-4, RBI) and April Pfeiffer (1-for-2) each trotted home on wild pitches.

The Eagles finished with six hits.

"Our hitting is getting better ... just need to make harder contact," said coach Meadows, a 1994 graduate of Mount Olive College. "It's a lot better. We've been working a lot on being aggressive on the basepaths and putting the ball in play.

"I was very pleased with their performance tonight."

Each team continues conference play Friday. Rosewood is the guest of North Duplin, while Spring Creek travels to defending Carolina champion North Johnston.