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Written by Greg Bird
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Friday, 16 April 2010 |
A four run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning served as a perfect ending to an incredible game Tuesday night as the McCreary Central Lady Raiders battled back from a 4-1 deficit to knock off the Southwestern Lady Warriors, 5-4.
A four run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning served as a perfect ending to an incredible game Tuesday night as the McCreary Central Lady Raiders battled back from a 4-1 deficit to knock off the Southwestern Lady Warriors, 5-4.
It was the Lady Raiders’ first win over Southwestern in at least the past 8 years, perhaps in team history.
Southwestern appeared to be cruising to another win over McCreary, limiting the Lady Raiders to only two hits in the first six innings, and both of those coming off the bat of Bryana Hodge. McCreary had only 7 runners reach base, and their only run came off a Lady Warrior error.
Trailing 4-1 entering the final inning against Southwestern starter Leanze Jones, the Lady Raiders were just two-outs away from their first District loss of the season when the magic started.
Jordan Adkins started the rally as a pinch-hitter. Adkins came off the bench with one out in the inning, and hit a line-drive back up the middle for a base-hit. Lauren Pennington followed with a walk, and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Chelsea Smith drove in the first run of the frame with a solid single to center.
Southwestern Coach Jim Woodall made a pitching change, bringing in Sydney Fourman to try and shut the Lady Raiders down, but McCreary kept applying the pressure as Bryana Hodge collected her third hit of the game and Taniesha Vanover was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Woodall brought Jones back to the mound to face Lesley Lawson. Lawson battled Jones for a lengthy at-bat, at one point fouling off six consecutive pitches to stay alive. Lawson finally came through, hitting a sharp grounder to deep short. Southwestern’s shortstop, Destiny Moulden, fired home, hoping to get the force-out at the plate, but Chelsea Smith beat the throw and tied the game 4-4.
Tiffany Toth grounded into a fielders’ choice for the second out of the inning.
Jamie Bennish polished off the incredible comeback for McCreary, slapping a flare to left field that fell out of the reach of three fielders, driving in the winning run of the game.
Bennish was mobbed by jubilant teammates after the hit as the Lady Raiders celebrated their 4-run inning and first win over Southwestern since at least 2002.
“I’m so very proud of them,” Coach David Durham said after the game. “They never gave up and fought back against a very tough team.”
“We could have hung our heads and quit at any time, but we refused to do that and proved we can compete with them.”
The win, the Lady Raiders’ fifth in the last six games, improved their record to 11-7 on the season and 2-0 in the District.
McCreary was coming off a 2nd place finish in the Tates Creek Classic over the weekend. McCreary posted wins over Bath County (18-10), Williamstown (9-6) and Tates Creek (13-2) in the tournament. Their only loss came against the eventual champion, West Jessamine (6-0).
McCreary followed with a 6-5 win over Russell County Monday night.
The Lady Raiders travel to Oneida Thursday and return home Friday afternoon to host Whitley County. On Monday they host Somerset before a Tuesday re-match against the Lady Warriors on the road at Southwestern High School.
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