Clover High softball team makes bid for region title

The Clover High School girls’ softball team is making a serious bid for a region title this season after missing a state championship playoff last season.

Clover defeated Nation Ford 4-2 March 25.

Nation Ford scored first in the top of the third inning, and Blake Wallert’s two-out RBI double tied the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the inning.

In the fourth inning, Stania Dominigue hit an infield single. A two-out RBI single by senior Missy Mavrogian pushed the Lady Blue Eagles ahead 2-1.

The next Clover hitter, eighth-grader Tiffany Dominigue, delivered a solid RBI double, expanding the CHS girls’ lead to 3-1.

Nation Ford pushed across a run in the top of the fifth.

The Lady Blue Eagles answered in the bottom of the inning, scoring on a sac fly by shortstop Marisa Harkey.

“We knew Nation Ford could play,” said Clover coach Shea Hall. “They’d already beaten Gaffney and they beat Fort Mill. Their pitcher kind of had us off balance the first couple innings.”

Hall said the Clover hitters made the necessary adjustments.

“We got to be a little more patient at the plate, waited on the ball and drove the ball,” she said. “I told the girls anytime you score a good many runs the night before, you always worry about the next day.

“It’s gonna be hard to muster up some runs. We mustered up enough and made some good plays on defense.”

Hall was impressed with Nation Ford’s style of play.

“They put the ball in play,” she said. “They are a very good team. We feel like we found a way to win.”

Hall hopes the Lady Blue Eagles can maintain their momentum at a tournament in Summerville during spring break.

“Hopefully, we’ll have a good week,” she said. “We’ve got to gear up for a strong finish for the region. It’s gonna be exciting.”

Hall said every coach wants their team to play the best ball by mid to late season.

“We’re still getting there. I think we’re buying into what we need to win,” she said. “The girls are doing what they need to do, being unselfish. If they’ve got to be the one to bunt somebody over, they realize how important it is. We’re getting some two-out hits, which is great to see.”

Hall has been pleased to see the bottom of the lineup contributing to the run production.

“Obviously, everybody gets excited when we’ve got Blake and Harkey up and stuff, which I do, too,” said Hall. “We’ve got some other people stepping up.”

The CHS coach is pleased to see others contributing.

“Some players who struggled a little bit last night came back tonight and hit the ball well.” she said. Our catcher (Taylor Stewart) came back tonight and had a big hit.”

Pitcher Elizabeth Edmunds got the win.

“I’ve got to be smart with my pitches,” Edmunds said after the game. “I don’t want to hang anything. I just try to contain my pitches and hit my spots.”

March 24, The Lady Blue Eagles defeated Gaffney 8-1, with Edmunds pitching.

Clover scored three runs in the bottom of the first. The Lady Blue Eagles added two runs in the second inning, highlighted by Wallert’s RBI triple.

The Clover team sealed the win with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Harkey had an RBI double and Stania Dominigue delivered an RBI single.

This story was originally published March 30, 2015 at 2:42 PM with the headline "Clover High softball team makes bid for region title."