Special to the Reporter

Suffering its first loss of the 2004 season, the Montevallo High School softball squad took second place in the Lady Bulldog Classic last weekend, posting three impressive wins before falling 13-6 to Thorsby in the championship game.

MHS now boasts a 10-1 record, the best start in school history.

Montevallo 6, Jemison 0

The Lady Bulldogs pounded out ten hits and got a two-hit, eight-strikeout performance from junior pitcher Katie Jones to open pool play on Friday afternoon.

MHS jumped out front 5-0 in the first inning before cruising to the victory. Lauren Stephens and Melissa Staffney opened the game with back-to-back singles, as Jones and Dee Dee Ray added RBI base hits later in the inning.

The Lady ‘Dogs put up an insurance run in the sixth when Amy Boyd scored after beating out a drag bunt to open the inning. Jones, meanwhile, retired 12 of the first fourteen batters she faced to improve to 8-0 on the year.

Montevallo 3, Isabella 1

Samantha Russo went 2 for 2 at the plate to pace Montevallo, and Jones dominated hitters on the mound, surrendering just one hit and striking out seven. MHS did all of its offensive damage in the second, getting five consecutive hits to open the inning. Ashley Lightfoot, Rebbie Taylor and Boyd plated the three runs for Montevallo, as Russo and Lauren Stephens drove in all three.

Montevallo 6, Bryant 0

The Lady Bulldogs utilized the big inning once again, scoring all of its runs in the third, taking advantage of two hits and five Bryant errors to put the game away early.

Staffney and Taylor contributed the two hits for MHS. Ray went 3 for 3 at the plate, while Staffney finished 2 for 4. Jones was in charge on the mound, giving up two hits, two walks and striking out three.

Thorsby 13, Montevallo 7

The Lady Rebels turned the tables on MHS, using a couple of big innings of their own to take the tournament title.

Thorsby plated six runs in the first and added five in the second to jump out to a huge lead. The Lady Bulldogs fought back with a five run fifth to cut the lead to 12-6, but it was too little too late as THS held on for the victory.

The Lady ‘Dogs suffered their first loss of the season, but head coach Ron Holsombeck would not let his team dwell on the loss.

&uot;I told them after the game not to separate themselves from the team that won 10 straight to open the season,&uot; Holsombeck said.

&uot;One loss is not going to dampen one bit what we have done so far, and our upcoming schedule is too tough to let this one loss distract us.&uot;

That schedule includes a return visit from 5A newcomer Bryant High School early this week, today’s trip to area rival Bibb County and a home game against Briarwood on Thursday.