Montgomery County took game #2 by a score of 11-5 on Sunday to take the best of three championship series two games to none over Halifax County American.  The game started on Saturday night but was suspended in the middle of the first inning due to severe weather in the Crewe area.  Halifax had gone three up and three down in the top half of the first before the game was called.

On Sunday, play would resume in the bottom of the first with Montgomery County coming to the plate.  Skylar Dehart would draw a walk, steal second and third and be driven home on an RBI single from Jaylin Shepherd giving Montgomery an early 1-0 lead.  

The lead didn’t last long as Halifax would get going in the top of the second.  A hit batsman, two singles and a walk would produce two runs for Halifax as they would gain control of the lead 2-1.  Halifax would shut Montgomery down in the bottom of the second.  In the third Halifax would take advantage of a walk followed by an RBI triple to increase their lead to 3-1.

Montgomery would take advantage of three walks in the bottom of the third.  Leah Harrison, Rachel Harding and Dehart would all draw walks to load the bases.  Emily Scaggs would connect on a 2 run double to tie the game at 3 apiece.  With Dehart at third and Scaggs at second, consecutive RBI singles from Shepherd and Abigail Wilson would give Montgomery a 5-3 advantage after the third inning.

Halifax would respond in the fourth with another triple, a walk and two RBI fielder choices to even the game at 5-5.  Montgomery would explode in the bottom of the fourth to put the game away.

McKenzie Lawrence would triple to get the inning started, followed by an RBI single off the bat of Rebecca Harding.  Adyson Huff would then single and Harrison would bring Harding and Huff around to score on a 2 RBI single making it an 8-5 Montgomery lead.  Montgomery wasn’t done as Rachel Harding would draw a walk.  With Harrison and Harding on base, Dehart would connect on a 3 run home run to increase Montgomery’s lead to 11-5.  That was all Montgomery would need as Rebecca Harding would finish off Halifax in the top of the fifth, pitching a complete game for the win.

Montgomery County is comprised of Rachel Harding, Skylar Dehart, Emily Scaggs, Jaylin Shepherd, Abigail Wilson, Courtney Raines, Tori Boyd, McKenzie Lawrence, Rebecca Harding, Adyson Huff, Leah Harrison and Morgan Wade.  They are managed by Lonnie Raines and coached by Rick Boyd, Booie Dehart, William Harrison, Randy Lawrence and Mike Hinkley.

This was Montgomery County’s first ever Dixie Softball State Championship and they will now represent Virginia in the inaugural Dixie Angels X-play World Series in Troy, Alabama.  Virginia’s first game is Saturday, July 28 at 12:00PM against Georgia.
 
Photo courtesy of Chris Slusher/Montgomery County Parks and Recreation Department