West Rowan gets the win over Northwest Cabarrus

Springtime in Mt. Ulla means West Rowan Softball. The past few seasons for Coach Jimmy Greene have been special ones for many reasons. When he was on my podcast a few weeks ago he spoke about the young ladies on his team as if they were an extension of his own family. Of course, he does have a family connection with his niece and future University of Tennessee player Emma Clarke. 

However, once I got to see Jimmy interact with his team in reality last night at West Rowan. It became apparent the reason he speaks so highly of his players as if they are family is because in a unique way they truly are. The players on Coach Greene's' squad are about as close as it gets to the real thing. The team truly supports every player from the top of the lineup to the bottom of the lineup. Their interaction with each other in the dugout is literally like watching siblings and family members just hanging out in their living rooms and enjoying the company of each other. 

Before the game got underway there were some technical issues with the PA system that had to be resolved but like the jack of all trades player that she is Emma Clarke was sent to the PA box by Coach Greene to help assist and get things underway. Once that was resolved the festivities went on without a hitch for the home team. 

Before the game got started, I was invited to take part in a tradition that Coach Greene has at West Rowan were someone gets to come out and throw the ceremonial first pitch. Now I have done many things in my time here as the Chief Forecaster for Rowan County Weather. This was a time where I am not going to lie. I was a bit nervous. This is my home, my county, the people I respect and love to be around. In my mind I was telling myself don't screw up and toss it too lightly where it fizzes out and never makes it to the plate. At the same time, I didn't want to just hurl it over the catcher's head into the backstop area as well. Fate would be on my side, and I was able to send it in though a bit high right into the glove. 

Now to the game. As the game got underway West Rowan went right to work. The Lady Falcons scored two runs early to put West up at the end of the first inning. By the second inning the club had already made its way through their lineup with Emma Clarke coming to bat for the second time in the game. Emma hit a sac fly to right field that drove in an RBI followed by Ella Doby scoring right after putting the Lady Falcons up 4-0 after two innings. 

Northwest Cabarrus wasn't going to go quietly as they did put a runner in scoring position in the Top of the fourth before the West defense tightened up and kept their opponents scoreless for another inning. Once the game got into the bottom of the fourth Emma Clarke was back up to the pate and this time drove in a three-run homer putting the Falcons up 7-0. The Lady Falcons weren't quite done there in the bottom of the fourth as on a stolen base attempt to third the Northwest Cabarrus catcher and third baseman couldn't connect leading to a run scoring steal putting the Falcons up 8-0 after four innings. 

By the bottom of the fifth inning the Lady Falcons were ready to pounce. as they were like sharks and could smell blood in the water. The dugout got loud as the bottom of the fifth inning opened. The team kept telling each batter. We just need two runs, and we can go home. That is exactly what the Falcons did in the bottom of the fifth securing those last two runs and winning the game 10-0 after five innings. 

Clearly offense got the runs, but the game would not have been won without the great pitching by Arabelle Shulenburger by not allowing a single earned run with giving up only one hit while striking out nine players over the course of the five-inning game. She balanced that pitching performance out with an equally as impressive batting performance of 2 hits earning a double each time and an RBI. 

Other performances to note in this one are from Emma Clarke with a home run and three RBI's. Reese Poole also batted in three runs. Ella Doby scored a run as well. 

With today being Good Friday Coach Greene spoke with his players after the game and told them to enjoy a day off and to have a Happy easter as they get ready for their next opponents in this year's campaign.