Floor is lava, Huntsville feels heat

FARMINGTON — Huntsville started to feel like the ground underneath its feet was turning to lava with all the heat Farmington put on the Lady Eagles during Friday’s 4A-1 softball action.

Huntsville dug into Farmington’s lead by pushing two runs across in the third inning, then the lights went out with the Lady Cardinals crushing the visitors 18-2 Friday. Farmington poured the heat on like lava running wild, scoring a third of its 12 runs in the bottom half of the inning on one hit, Morgan Uher’s grand slam. Uher finished 2 for 4 with 5 RBIs and 3 runs scored. She singled earlier in the second inning, driving in a run.

Adopting an “all systems go” mentality, the Lady Cardinals took the Lady Eagles to task by scoring 12 runs in the third inning. Back in a familiar place at the top of the order, Reese Shirey (2 for 4, 2 RBIs, 3 runs scored) singled, scoring a pair of runs that bumped Farmington’s lead to 8-2.

Uher followed that by knocking a grand slam out of the ballpark over the left field wall. Cloie Cunningham (1 for 2, RBI, run scored) singled, pushing a run across and stretching the lead to 9-2.

Justine Davidson (2 for 4, 2 RBIs, run scored) singled, driving Farmington’s 10th run in. Chloie Thomas (1 for 3, RBI) added a single to the Lady Cardinals’ hit parade, driving one run in. Huntsville didn’t help itself get out of the inning any sooner by committing an error with another run scoring. Katie Fleming (1 for 2, 2 RBIs, 2 runs scored, walk) smacked a double, which scored 2 runs elevating the Lady Cardinals’ lead to skyscraper status at 16-2.

Huntsville didn’t score in the fourth and fifth innings and the game ended as a run-rule victory for Farmington.

The Lady Cardinals jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Uher hit into a fielder’s choice, but one run scored. The Lady Eagles appeared as if they might avoid further damage by turning a double play with the bases loaded. However, Davidson bashed a single, driving in 2 runs.

“Our kids were able to push three runs across early, which kind of gave us a little comfort that allowed us to ease into the game a little bit. Then once we got on a roll we put the ball in play well. They had some mistakes behind them, but our kids did a good job of continuing to put pressure on them,” said Farmington coach Jason Shirey.

Farmington padded its lead with an RBI single by Uher, making the score 4-0. With two runners in scoring position, Mallory Sills came through with a 2-run single, staking the Lady Cardinal advantage to 6-0. Sills stole second and raced to third base on a throwing error before Huntsville got out of the inning with a strikeout.

Lady Eagles’ starter Kennedy Smith (2 for 2) endeavored to help her cause by driving in two runs in the top of the third, but that’s all the offense Huntsville could muster.

Kennedy Griggs earned the win for Farmington. She allowed three hits and two runs over five innings, striking out three and walking one.

Smith took the loss for the Lady Eagles. She threw four innings, allowing 18 runs (13 earned) on 15 hits, striking out three and walking two.

The Lady Cardinals racked up 15 hits in the game, and didn’t commit any errors.