The Sonic Drive-In Player-of-the-Game for Tuesday, March 5, is Alissa Humphrey of the Gainesville softball team.
Humphrey, a junior pitcher, hurled a complete game two-hit shutout with 14 strikeouts and had two hits at the plate, including an RBI, as Gainesville blanked District 3-7A rival Columbia (Lake City), 1-0 , on Tuesday night in the district opener for both teams.
“Yeah, that was a close one,” said Gainesville coach Chris Chronister. “Typical Gainesville-Columbia softball game almost always comes down to a 1-run game.”
Humphrey struck out the side in the first and fourth innings and had at least one strikeout in every inning. The Jacksonville University commit also was the only player with multiple hits in the game, and drove in the only run for either team with a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the 4th.
“I thought I was really spinning the ball well and my change-up was really on tonight,” said Humphrey. “It feels good to come out on top.”
Gainesville improved to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in district play despite leaving 11 runners on base. The Hurricanes left the bases loaded in the first and third innings and failed to score in the sixth inning after having runners on second and third with no outs.
The Hurricanes scored their only run with a two-out rally in the fourth inning.
“We had a lot of baserunners and didn’t take advantage of the situations,” said Chronister. “Credit them for the good defense.”
Despite the hitting woes for Gainesville, one run was enough with Humphrey in the circle. She allowed singles to Reece Chastain in the third inning and Dara Gaylard in the sixth while walking three and hitting a batter.
Columbia left seven runners on base as well.
Freshman Paris Wiggs also had a hit and a walk and scored the only run for the Hurricanes, who are now off for a week before returning to action in another district game at Vanguard (Ocala).
Columbia had a three-game winning streak snapped and falls to 3-3 overall and 0-1 in District 3-7A. The Tigers return to action at home Thursday night against Dixie County (Cross City) and host Class 1A No. 1 Trenton on Friday.
Every game The Prep Zone will recognize a Player-of-the-Game. The recipient receives a $10 gift certificate courtesy of Sonic Drive-In of Gainesville & Ocala.
