By By BRUCE HIXON – Sports Editor
The T.R. Miller Lady Tigers took another step towards a possible number one seed for next month's Class 3A Area 1 Softball Tournament Tuesday when they disposed of the visiting Clarke County Lady Bulldogs 15-7.
The win improved T.R. Miller's record to 4-0 against Area foes with a road trip to Straughn next week as the last obstacle.
Although the Lady Tigers missed an opportunity to make quick work of the Lady Bulldogs after they raced out to an 11-0 lead after two innings, White said that was not all bad.
T.R. Miller's victory came at a steep price. The Lady Tigers lost one of the catalysts in their lineup when senior centerfielder and leadoff hitter Haley Rilling injured her foot when she beat out an infield single in the bottom of the first inning.
Emily Layton's RBI double and Terri Lynne Peacock's RBI single sparked a four-run first inning.
T.R. Miller's seven-run second inning that made it 11-0 featured a double and a two-run single by Taelor Robinson, and RBI singles by Shandreka Foster, Leigh Cooper and Catherine Layton.
Clarke County scored all seven of its runs in the top of the fourth inning when the Lady Tigers had a couple of errors.
T.R. Miller was able to put some distance between itself and the Lady Bulldogs in the bottom of the fourth inning when RBI singles by Foster, Leslie Nalty and Peacock, and Robinson's sacrifice fly made it 15-7.
Cooper went the distance on a seven-hitter and struck out five for the win.
T.R. Miller dropped a 7-6 decision at Excel Thursday.
Excel broke a 6-6 tie with the go-ahead and decisive run in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Terri Lynne Peacock, Leslie Nalty, Leigh Cooper and Emily Layton all had a hit to pace the Lady Tigers (7-4).
The Lady Tigers' junior varsity concluded their season with a 10-7, six-inning win over Excel. T.R. Miller finished its inaugural season of play at that level with a 7-7 record.
T.R. Miller's next game is Tuesday when it hosts Monroe County at 4 p.m. The Lady Tigers visit Escambia County Thursday at 4 p.m.