Ferriday Dixie Belles win nail biter

By Patrick Ochs (Contact) | The Natchez Democrat

Published Monday, July 21, 2008

PINEVILLE, La. — The Ferriday 13-15-year-old Dixie Belles continued their winning ways Sunday when they squeaked out a 7-6 victory over Ponchatoula in the Louisiana State Tournament.

Ferriday took an early 3-1 lead after the first inning, but Ponchatoula responded to tie the game in the bottom of the second.

“I thought we had the game in control early on, but they kept coming back,” Ferriday coach Rut Horne said.

In the bottom of the third inning Ferriday’s Latorya Griffin led-off the inning with an out-of-the-park home run.

“It looked like it cleared the wall a third of the way up the light pole,” Horne said. “It was no cheap shot, that started the good third inning for us.”

Horne said Griffin’s home run was the second to leave the park in 18 years.

Later in the inning Alaina Burns hit a 2-RBI double to extend Ferriday’s lead to 6-3.

Ferriday added what ended up to be the decisive seventh run in the bottom of the fourth when Ginny Daggett scored from third on a Heidi Thornton hit to the left side of the infield.

Not only did Burns’ bat make an impact, her glove also made a few web gems.

“Burns made two outstanding catches in center field,” Horne said. “Probably as good of catches as have been made this year.”

Horne said the first was an over-the-shoulder snag in a full-out sprint, while the other was a shoestring grab to end an inning.

Next up for Ferriday is the winner of JPRD and Fabine at 8 p.m. today.

Horne said his team has utilized its speed by playing small ball throughout the tournament and has no plans on changing their playing style unless prompted to.

“We’ll do what’s necessary,” Horne said. “They’re going to have to show us they can get us out. If they can get us out, we may have to change up our game plan.

“So far, no one has been able to get us out.”