Indians win Southern Valley tournament

By Robert Sisk

Published: May 20, 2008

FORT DEFIANCE — Ten district wins and two trophies later, the Indians are ready for Region III.
On Tuesday afternoon the young Indians squad continued its dominance of the Southern Valley District, defeating Stuarts Draft 7-1 to capture the district tournament championship.
“We held in there and proved our point,” said Fort’s Jessica Hogle. “We proved that we are the [Southern] Valley District champs. To hold that trophy in your hands, it’s awesome.”
At the start of the season, Southern Valley co-coach of the year Max Hill wasn’t sure if his team would have the experience to sweep the district championships, but said that, as the season progressed, the Indians proved their ability.
“Some of the teams we beat this year, [the team] surprised me,” Hill said. “William Monroe, they’re older than us and we beat them on a Saturday, and James River has got a girl that is throwing 63 mph and just signed with Tech. They’re a [Group A] school, but when I saw her, I thought it was going to be a short game, but Hogle hit a grand slam in the sixth.”
The Cougars will still get a shot at the Region III tournament, entering as the No. 2 seed. On Monday they will host a first-round game against a team yet to be announced, but will have to travel Tuesday to a No. 1 seed.
“We will have to work on our hitting … and not letting it get into our head when we go down,” said Stuarts Draft coach Michelle Campbell. “I guess we have to toughen them up a little bit.”
The Indians could not muster a hit in the first two innings against Cougars starter Erin Brown. Brown, a sophomore, allowed one walk and struck out one in the first two innings, while the Cougars scattered two hits in the first two-and-a-half innings.
“[Brown has] done a real good job for us,” Campbell said. “She has been on the mound for us every game. Seeing her and her range improve … I’m just proud of her.”
The Indians’ drought ended in the third when Kendra Cash hit an infield single and moved to second on a steal. With Tiffany Lockridge at the plate, Cash stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. Brown walked Lockridge to put runners on the corners and Lockridge stole second to put two Indians in scoring position.
“If I get on them, there is no telling what they’re going to do,” Hill said. “Sometimes they just have to wait.”
With two outs, Fort’s Courtney Allman hit a two-RBI double to give the Indians a 2-0 lead. Fort never relinquished the lead.
The Cougars’ only run came in the top of the fourth when Cadie Loan hit a double then scored on consecutive wild pitches to make the score 2-1 in Fort’s favor.
After Draft scored, the Indians lit up the scoreboard, scoring one run in the fourth and fifth innings and scoring three in the sixth, with two runners crossing the plate on a Jessica Clifton double.
The Indians’ Hogle started the game in the pitcher’s circle, throwing five strikeouts, while allowing one walk and three hits in five innings of work to pick up the win. Lenoir Rhyne-bound Brittany Davidson later relieved her in the sixth. Davidson walked one and allowed one hit.
Brown took the loss, pitching the complete game with one strikeout.
Fort Defiance will have a first-round bye and will play its next game on Tuesday at the Reservation.