AHS earns trip to state

By Scot Beard
scot@athensnews-courier.com

ARDMORE May 09, 2008 11:15 pm

— The Ardmore High School softball team secured a spot in the state tournament Friday with a 5-1 victory in the deciding game three of its second round sub-state series against Cherokee County.
The series started rough for the Lady Tigers, who lost 7-2 in the opening game. Ardmore rebounded with an impressive performance in the second game as they won 10-0 in five innings to force game three.
Aarika Boggs pitched a no-hitter in the final game, issuing one walk and striking out 12.
Casey Steadman hit a double and a single to lead the Ardmore offense, while Katie Shelton hit a pair of singles.
Brittany Brown and Kelsey Gilbert both doubled and Callie Steadman singled.
With the win, the Lady Tigers advance to the state tournament for the first time in four years.
It was the second impressive pitching performance of the day for Boggs, who carried a perfect game into the fifth inning of the second game before the Lady Warrior’s lead off hitter spoiled it with a single to centerfield.
The game was scoreless going into the second before the Ardmore offense scored six runs.
Callie Steadman doubled to lead off the inning before Gilbert reached on an error. Brittany Miles had a bunt single to load the bases and Callie Bryant drove in a pair of runs with a double.
Brown doubled to score two more runs and scored on an infield single by Kelsey Turner. Turner scored on a double by Casey Steadman.
Ardmore added another run in the fourth when Turner singled to score Bryant.
Boggs drew a walk in the fifth followed by a double by Brittany Miles.
Boggs scored on a Bryant single and Miles scored on a single by Shelton.
Brown had a sacrifice RBI to score Bryant.