Big Byrd hits drive in Lady Bulldog win

Published 12:00 am Thursday, April 21, 2005

Mindy Byrd blasted a double to deep left field to knock in all of King’s Fork’s runs Tuesday as the Lady Bulldogs beat visiting Lakeland 3-0.

&uot;I was just ready to hit,&uot; said Byrd, who made the First All-Southeastern District team for Nansemond River last year. &uot;I’ve been in a hitting slump, and I finally came out of it.&uot;

In the bottom of the third, Margaret Farris led off with a walk. Whitney Holland singled, and Brandi Novak went in to pinch-run. LaTonia Gatling bunted on to load the bases. Byrd worked the count to 2-2, then hammered a long fly ball to left to knock home all the runners.

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Holland and the rest of the Lady Bulldog defense kept the Lady Cavaliers from passing second for the remainder. Holland struck out three in the contest, one less than her Lakeland counterpart, Lindsay Kelly.

Lakeland got even on the baseball diamond, scoring nine runs in the sixth inning of an 18-0 victory. Aside from throwing a complete-game two-hitter, Daniel Cross had three hits and scored three runs and Chad Cross blasted a two-run homer.

Lakeland will host its other city-mates, Nansemond River, on Friday.

jason.norman@suffolknewsherald.com