Raceway takes third with narrow victory
Tom Barrett led the way with four hits, and belted a solo home run to help Randy’s Raceway clinch third place in the city co-ed softball league with a narrow 18-17 win over Homes America Wednesday night at the Civic Center field.
With the win, Randy’s finished its season with a 4-2 record, taking third for the regular season. Homes America put up a strong fight, but ended up with a 2-4 mark and fourth place in the league.
Raceway posted five runs in the first, as five of its first seven batters reached base, but Homes America came back with a five-spot in the top of the second on RBIs from Shannon Madewell, Clayton Martin, Cheryl King, Ricky Ledbetter and Mandy Franklin.
John Chisam singled and scored in the second, putting Raceway back on top 6-5, but a leadoff homer from Aaron Gudat tied the game back at 6-6.
Barrett came through with a solo shot to lead off the third, and an RBI single from Jody Cavanaugh put Raceway up 7-6.
Homes America built a lead in the next inning, scoring four runs on four hits, including a two-run single from Jennifer Lockridge. But, continuing with the theme of the game, Raceway came right back to answer the call, scoring five runs in the bottom of the fourth. After a walk to Barrett and an automatic free pass to Kelly Smartt, Brent Griffith came through with a bases-clearing triple to highlight the frame.
Homes America scored three more runs in the fifth, as Madewell tripled home Kevin Webb and Clayton Martin came through with an inside-the-park homer to tie the game at 13-13. Jeff Mosley drove in Kim Young in the bottom of the inning, putting Raceway back on top, but Calvin Smith drove in a run to tie the game back at 14-14, and Gudat drove in a pair of runs to give Homes America a two-run lead.
A ground-rule double from Kevin Webb, his second of the night, plated Gudat to put Homes on top 17-14, scoring what would prove to be their final run of the game.
“Doc” Woodlee got things going for Raceway in the sixth, singling to lead off the inning and scoring on a fielder’s choice RBI from Smartt. Griffith drove in Barrett, who had singled, to cut Homes’ lead to 17-16, and Cavanaugh drove in Smartt to tie the game at 17-17.
After retiring Homes America without giving up a run in the top of the seventh, Raceway’s Tabitha Moore came through with the game-winning RBI in the bottom of the inning.
John Chisam reached on a dropped fly to start the frame, and was removed for pinch runner Woodlee, who advanced to second on a Mosley fly to left, and came home on Moore’s tomahawk single to center field.
Barrett finished with a perfect night at the plate, reaching base all four times he came up to lead all male batters.
Smartt, with a 2-for-3 night, led all female hitters.