Stephanie Sturgis - Press Sports Editor
Posted: Friday, May 1, 2009 2:59 pm

Underneath — Gleason freshman Sarah Passeri (right) slides in safely under the tag of Lady Yellowjacket third baseman Hailey Rayner during District 14-A Softball Tournament play-in game action Wednesday afternoon in Gleason.

Runs were far from rare as the Gleason Lady Bulldogs and Greenfield Lady Yellowjackets combined to plate 31 runs in only four innings during their play-in game in the District 14-A Softball Tournament Wednesday afternoon in Gleason.
The host Lady Bulldogs scored a combined 10 runs over the first two innings on the way to the 23-8 victory. The loss eliminates the Greenfield girls from title contention and ends their 2009 season.
For Gleason, the win advances them deeper into the tournament but inclement weather has disrupted much of the tourney's original schedule. The Lady Bulldogs will next take on the Halls Lady Tigers.
Lady Bulldog starting pitcher Alicyn Martin retired the Lady Jackets in order in the top of the first inning.
In the home half of the first inning, the first five Lady Dawgs to step to the plate eventually all scored. Alicyn Martin, Heather Bowles, Audrea Martin and Sami Verdell all singled and scored. Taylor Stout reached on a walk and scored.
The damage might have been greater, but Greenfield starting pitcher Morgan Bodkins worked out of a bases loaded jam, getting two strikeouts and a fly out to Jasmine Allen in center field to keep the Gleason lead at 5-0.
In the Greenfield half of the second, the Lady Yellowjackets cut into their deficit. Emily Randolph and Jessica Williams both smashed line drive singles to the outfield and then advanced a base with a steal. Lady Dawg center fielder Verdell made a great play covering a lot of ground to make a catch in the gap on a shot off the bat of  Hailey Rayner.
Alicyn Martin notched a strikeout for the second out and appeared to be out of trouble with a grounder, but a throwing error allowed both Randolph and Williams to score to cut the Gleason lead to 5-2.
The Lady Dawgs sent 10 batters to the plate in the bottom of the second inning and scored five more runs. Gleason took advantage of two hit batters, two errors and a walk. Bowles had the lone Lady Dawg hit in the at-bat, driving in two runs with a single to right center field as Gleason stretched its lead to 10-2 after two innings.
In the top of the third, it was Gleason's turn to give up unearned runs. The Lady Jackets whittled four runs off their deficit using only one base hit. Allen drew a leadoff walk, while Bodkins followed with a single to center. They both scored as did Williams and Raynor as the Lady Dawg cushion was trimmed back to four runs at 10-6.
Gleason regained the momentum in the bottom of the third by putting nine runs on the board. Only two hits were needed as errors and walks contributed to the Lady Dawg offense. Audrea Martin and Verdell both scored twice in the at-bat. Kaitlyn Collins had an infield single and Audrea Martin doubled as Gleason's lead hit 19-6.
Greenfield got two runs in the fourth when Brystal Barber and Bodkins both walked and scored to cut the Lady Dawg lead to 19-8.
Gleason put the mercy rule into effect with four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Jaclyn Montgomery got things going with a leadoff single before scoring as the Lady Dawgs earned the 23-8 victory.