Lady Mustangs, Wildcats play for Savannah
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
DODSONVILLE — Wednesday was about more than a winning or losing score in the grand scheme of life for the Lynchburg-Clay Lady Mustangs and Whiteoak Lady Wildcats. They both were playing for three-year-old Savannah Tong, as she is battling an aggressive form of brain cancer.
Though Whiteoak won the Southern Hills Athletic Conference game, 7-0, the fundraising game for Savannah, and the community bond these two "rivals" shared for Savannah, became the main cause for these two schools.
On March 15, Savannah was diagnosed with a very large brain tumor, and on March 18, the tumor was removed at Dayton Children's Hospital. In April, doctors discovered it was an extremely rare and very aggressive type of cancer.
Currently, Savannah is in Bloomington, Ind., receiving seven weeks of radiation treatment.
Savannah's parents, Travis Tong and Billie Smith, wanted to thank everyone for their prayers and support.
Kaitlyn Umphries, a cousin of Savannah, helped organize the game.
"We originally bought the pink jerseys before the season, wanting to have a fundraising game, and when Savannah was diagnosed, we wanted to have a game for her," Umphries said. "We had a bake sale at school, sold T-shirts, and Whiteoak has also helped out a lot."
The total amount raised for the cause was a combined $769 from both WHS and LC.
"This is two small communities pulling together for a special person," LC head coach Howard Creighton said. "Both schools and the girls worked hard for Savannah. We wore pink jerseys and had the socks with pink ribbons. We just want to thank everyone involved in making this event happen."
The first pitch was thrown by six-year-old Jayden Maxfield in honor of Savannah.
WHS head coach Bret Malone spoke about his team's involvement with the game for Savannah.
"Howard and I know each other, and he told us what they were going to do. We wanted to help out, bought special shirts for the game, and the girls worked very hard. They sold cookies at lunch, and I'm proud of how everyone came together."
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As for the game, the Visiting Lady 'Cats scored four runs in the first inning and never trailed as they added one run in the fifth and two final runs in the sixth.
The first inning for WHS began with Kiley Sosby leading off by forcing a walk on four straight pitches. Morgan Miller followed by taking first on an infield error, and Mikayla Burns batted in Sosby with a single to left field for the first run of the game. Burns reached base five times, going 3-for-3 with a walk and being hit by a pitch.
After two consecutive outs, Jayde Parr loaded the bases by drawing a walk on a full-count. With the bases loaded, WHS scored two more runs on eight straight pitches when Ashleigh Harless (2-for-3) and Christine Hamilton each drew four-pitch walks, scoring Miller and Burns. Parr scored in a single to left field by Caitlyn Arledge. WHS sent 10 batters to the plate in the inning.
In the fifth, Harless had a base hit to centerfield and moved to second on a bunt by Hamilton. Harless raced to third on a passed ball and scored on another passed ball for a five-run lead.
The final two runs by WHS came in the sixth with Burns and Hayley Nace rounding the bases for the final seven-run win. Burns led off the inning with a single and ace followed with a walk. Kendra Parker batted in Burns with a ground out to gain the RBI, and Kayla Smallwood knocked in Nace with a line drive to left field.
"At the plate, we are getting better with patience (WHS forced eight walks)," Malone said. "Lynchburg-Clay's pitcher improved as the game went on."
Sosby collected 14 strikeouts for the complete game win. Sosby, who now has 213 strikeouts on the season, gained her sixth win in '13. With this game being a fundraiser, Sosby donated $3 for every strikeout she had on Wednesday, totaling $42.
Sosby pitched a shutout for the second time this season. Against LC, she allowed just two hits off the bats of Madysyn Creighton (a first-inning double) and a single in the fifth by Kirsten Banks.
"Kiley's strikeouts put less pressure on our defense," Malone said. "We had just one error. I saw some good things … we just need to continue improving."
LC pitcher Hannah Magie totaled three strikeouts.
Creighton spoke about his team's play.
"Our pitching improved as the game went on, and our defense was solid," he said. "We didn't put up any runs, and if we don't put up runs, we won't win games.
"Sosby is one of the best pitchers in or out of the state. She pitched phenomenal against us."
Though Whiteoak won the Southern Hills Athletic Conference game, 7-0, the fundraising game for Savannah, and the community bond these two "rivals" shared for Savannah, became the main cause for these two schools.
On March 15, Savannah was diagnosed with a very large brain tumor, and on March 18, the tumor was removed at Dayton Children's Hospital. In April, doctors discovered it was an extremely rare and very aggressive type of cancer.
Currently, Savannah is in Bloomington, Ind., receiving seven weeks of radiation treatment.
Savannah's parents, Travis Tong and Billie Smith, wanted to thank everyone for their prayers and support.
Kaitlyn Umphries, a cousin of Savannah, helped organize the game.
"We originally bought the pink jerseys before the season, wanting to have a fundraising game, and when Savannah was diagnosed, we wanted to have a game for her," Umphries said. "We had a bake sale at school, sold T-shirts, and Whiteoak has also helped out a lot."
The total amount raised for the cause was a combined $769 from both WHS and LC.
"This is two small communities pulling together for a special person," LC head coach Howard Creighton said. "Both schools and the girls worked hard for Savannah. We wore pink jerseys and had the socks with pink ribbons. We just want to thank everyone involved in making this event happen."
The first pitch was thrown by six-year-old Jayden Maxfield in honor of Savannah.
WHS head coach Bret Malone spoke about his team's involvement with the game for Savannah.
"Howard and I know each other, and he told us what they were going to do. We wanted to help out, bought special shirts for the game, and the girls worked very hard. They sold cookies at lunch, and I'm proud of how everyone came together."
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As for the game, the Visiting Lady 'Cats scored four runs in the first inning and never trailed as they added one run in the fifth and two final runs in the sixth.
The first inning for WHS began with Kiley Sosby leading off by forcing a walk on four straight pitches. Morgan Miller followed by taking first on an infield error, and Mikayla Burns batted in Sosby with a single to left field for the first run of the game. Burns reached base five times, going 3-for-3 with a walk and being hit by a pitch.
After two consecutive outs, Jayde Parr loaded the bases by drawing a walk on a full-count. With the bases loaded, WHS scored two more runs on eight straight pitches when Ashleigh Harless (2-for-3) and Christine Hamilton each drew four-pitch walks, scoring Miller and Burns. Parr scored in a single to left field by Caitlyn Arledge. WHS sent 10 batters to the plate in the inning.
In the fifth, Harless had a base hit to centerfield and moved to second on a bunt by Hamilton. Harless raced to third on a passed ball and scored on another passed ball for a five-run lead.
The final two runs by WHS came in the sixth with Burns and Hayley Nace rounding the bases for the final seven-run win. Burns led off the inning with a single and ace followed with a walk. Kendra Parker batted in Burns with a ground out to gain the RBI, and Kayla Smallwood knocked in Nace with a line drive to left field.
"At the plate, we are getting better with patience (WHS forced eight walks)," Malone said. "Lynchburg-Clay's pitcher improved as the game went on."
Sosby collected 14 strikeouts for the complete game win. Sosby, who now has 213 strikeouts on the season, gained her sixth win in '13. With this game being a fundraiser, Sosby donated $3 for every strikeout she had on Wednesday, totaling $42.
Sosby pitched a shutout for the second time this season. Against LC, she allowed just two hits off the bats of Madysyn Creighton (a first-inning double) and a single in the fifth by Kirsten Banks.
"Kiley's strikeouts put less pressure on our defense," Malone said. "We had just one error. I saw some good things … we just need to continue improving."
LC pitcher Hannah Magie totaled three strikeouts.
Creighton spoke about his team's play.
"Our pitching improved as the game went on, and our defense was solid," he said. "We didn't put up any runs, and if we don't put up runs, we won't win games.
"Sosby is one of the best pitchers in or out of the state. She pitched phenomenal against us."