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--> --> July 11: Fire gets burnt in offensive scorcher By Randy Johnson For The Tidings MEDFORD - Record high temperatures didn't slow down the offensive fireworks in a softball showdown at Medford. The scorching heat sparked a combined 48 runs - 25 in the third inning alone - as the Medford American 9-10 year old girl's softball team doused the Ashland Fire 25-23 in a 3-hour marathon. The Fire began the scoring onslaught when starting pitcher Smith Freeman laid down a classic bunt to reach first. Freeman stole her way around the diamond scoring the game's first run. Medford answered in kind to tie the inning 1-1. Both teams came to life in the 2nd inning. Fire catcher Sarah Marston got on. Olivia Mesco then banged one to left-center field for a double. Amanda Adams got her first RBI when she drove in Mesco. Then Medford went to bat in the bottom of the second scoring seven runs. Powerful Medford hitter Mikaya Meerten smashed a double, driving in first-time pitcher Jordan Jones. The third inning was a comedy of errors, walks, and pitching changes for both teams. For the Fire, Mesco and Adams both got to third on errors, and Amanda Bottimore ripped a double, driving in three runs. Mesco ran to the batter's box a-la Pete Rose for her ups and stole second and third after being walked. After 11 runs were scored, Medford went to the bullpen putting fastballer Alissa Stromberg on the mound who ended Ashland's run. Walks and errors took the Fire out of the game in the bottom of the third. After seven runs were scored by Medford, Smith turned the mound over to Drew Van Vleck who soon put an end to the free-for-all by striking out Meerten. At the end of the third, Medford led 20-16. Kimberly Glazer took over the pitching duties for Medford in the fourth inning, striking out two and allowing the Fire only two runs. On their turn at bat, Medford scored four runs even after the Fire's Hanah Wilson's great play on a stratospheric pop-up at second. The fifth inning ended with Medford clinging to a 25-19 lead. Fighting both a tough Medford team and a setting sun, Ashland rallied in the sixth with outfielder Christina Shulters hitting the first pitch to deep left field. Marston, Mesco and Wilson all had hits to plate four runs, just two runs short of catching Medford. "I won't sleep tonight," said Ashland Manager John Souza. "We can do better. Medford's the best team we'll meet and I know we can work our way through the second tier and take them in the weekend's championship. These girls will channel their frustration into sending the Phoenix-Talent team home after tomorrow's game." Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing