Central rolls past Southern

Jenny Elder
Register Contributor

RICHMOND May 20, 2008 01:53 pm

— Meredith Buscher ripped a double to the left-field fence Monday, helping Madison Central find its rhythm in the semifinals of the 44th District Softball Tournament.
It was the Lady Indians (17-14) first of 14 hits on their way to a 11-3 win over rival Madison Southern. Central came into the game on a six-game skid with its last win coming on May 1 over the Lady Eagles (10-17).
Buscher’s aggressive baserunning broke up a scoreless game in the top of the third as she advanced to third on a fielder’s choice and scored on a pass ball.
Christina Ciolek then doubled to left center followed by a walk to Lyndsay Jones. The pair scored on a double by Danelle Johnson.
“We finally started to get our timing down,” Central coach Doug Cornett said. “We put a couple of base hits together.”
The Lady Indians broke the game wide open in the fourth with another three runs off three hits. One run scored off a single by Michelle Smith and then Ciolek ripped a two RBI double down the left field line for the six-run cushion.
“I was definitely pleased with how we came out ready to play,” Southern coach Brian Foley said. “There were just some key plays we didn’t make and let them open things up.”
Southern had its chances throughout the game to get something going, banging out nine hits. But, just never put enough together.
“That’s been one of our downfalls all year,” Foley said. “We just can’t get the key hits. It is one of our focal points for next season.”
Another five runs in the fifth seemed to all but put the game away, however Southern was not ready to give up. Courtney Harold, Brooke Casteel and Nikki Jeck started the inning with singles and following a Casey Boggs strikeout, Candace Himes and Stephanie Mazurek drew back-to-back walks to make it 11-2. Maya Todd then roped an RBI single for the final run.
Central advances to Wednesday’s finals to face the winner of today’s other semifinal game between Model (17-7) and Berea (12-13).