Lady Gladiators end season as Regional Quarterfinalists

Image: Team Work! — During their pre-defense ritual, the Lady Gladiators get pumped up.

Team Work! — During their pre-defense ritual, the Lady Gladiators get pumped up. (Kelly Lewis)

Image: Junior Pitcher, Courtney Westbrook — Westbrook started the game in the circle for the Lady Gladiators.

Junior Pitcher, Courtney Westbrook — Westbrook started the game in the circle for the Lady Gladiators. (Kelly Lewis)

Image: Cori Jeffords, Junior 2nd Baseman — Jeffords makes the play at 2nd base.

Cori Jeffords, Junior 2nd Baseman — Jeffords makes the play at 2nd base. (Kelly Lewis)

Image: Drew Windham, Junior 1st Baseman — Windham moves into foul territory to make the catch for an out. Jeffords and Sophomore, Mariesella Perez come in to back her up.

Drew Windham, Junior 1st Baseman — Windham moves into foul territory to make the catch for an out. Jeffords and Sophomore, Mariesella Perez come in to back her up. (Kelly Lewis)

Image: Mariesella Perez — Perez puts down a bunt and hussles down the line. Perez was injured during this play in a collision with a Meridian defensive player at 1st base and had to be carried off the field.

Mariesella Perez — Perez puts down a bunt and hussles down the line. Perez was injured during this play in a collision with a Meridian defensive player at 1st base and had to be carried off the field. (Kelly Lewis)

Image: Fan overflow — There was a standing room only crowd during the Regional Quarterfinal game against Meridian.

Fan overflow — There was a standing room only crowd during the Regional Quarterfinal game against Meridian. (Kelly Lewis)

Image: Lupita Luna, Sophomore — Luna gave it her all in right field.

Lupita Luna, Sophomore — Luna gave it her all in right field. (Kelly Lewis)

Image: Bailey Bumpus, Freshman — Bumpus gave a solid performance behind the plate for the Lady Gladiators.

Bailey Bumpus, Freshman — Bumpus gave a solid performance behind the plate for the Lady Gladiators. (Kelly Lewis)

Image: Leavin’ it all out on the field — Windham gave 110% as she scrambles to make a catch.

Leavin’ it all out on the field — Windham gave 110% as she scrambles to make a catch. (Kelly Lewis)

Image: The throw down — The Italy defense works together to try to stop a steal.

The throw down — The Italy defense works together to try to stop a steal. (Kelly Lewis)

Image: Go-Go-Gadget springs! — Bumpus goes airborne trying to “help” her teammates make the play.

Go-Go-Gadget springs! — Bumpus goes airborne trying to “help” her teammates make the play. (Kelly Lewis)

Image: Gettin’ down the line — Bumpus sprints to first.

Gettin’ down the line — Bumpus sprints to first. (Kelly Lewis)

Image: Making adjustments — Coach Tina Richards signals her outfielders to adjust their location on the field.

Making adjustments — Coach Tina Richards signals her outfielders to adjust their location on the field. (Kelly Lewis)

Image: Freshman Pitcher, Megan Richards — Richards came in to relieve Westbrook in the circle.

Freshman Pitcher, Megan Richards — Richards came in to relieve Westbrook in the circle. (Kelly Lewis)

Image: Quick Conference — Before her at-bat, the Meridian defense called a timeout where Coaches Richards and Windham give Jeffords a quick pep-talk (which obviously worked since she hit an over the fence homerun during this at-bat).

Quick Conference — Before her at-bat, the Meridian defense called a timeout where Coaches Richards and Windham give Jeffords a quick pep-talk (which obviously worked since she hit an over the fence homerun during this at-bat). (Kelly Lewis)

Image: Yep, your right shortstop….it’s gone! — Jeffords was the spark to the Lady Gladiator offense with a three run homer.

Yep, your right shortstop….it’s gone! — Jeffords was the spark to the Lady Gladiator offense with a three run homer. (Kelly Lewis)

Image: Joggin’ in — Jeffords takes her homerun lap with Richards waiting to congratulate her.

Joggin’ in — Jeffords takes her homerun lap with Richards waiting to congratulate her. (Kelly Lewis)

Image: “Bump” — Bumpus takes the pitch signal from Coach Reeves.

“Bump” — Bumpus takes the pitch signal from Coach Reeves. (Kelly Lewis)

Image: On their feet! — Words cannot express the excitement of that last inning of the Regional Quarterfinal matchup between Italy and Meridian.

On their feet! — Words cannot express the excitement of that last inning of the Regional Quarterfinal matchup between Italy and Meridian. (Kelly Lewis)

Image: Giddy! — Windham and Coach Richards are all smiles as the Lady Gladiator offensive attack begins to ramp up.

Giddy! — Windham and Coach Richards are all smiles as the Lady Gladiator offensive attack begins to ramp up. (Kelly Lewis)

Image: Strategy — The Meridian defense opted to throw four unhittable pitches to Jeffords who had, in her last at-bat, hit one over the fence.

Strategy — The Meridian defense opted to throw four unhittable pitches to Jeffords who had, in her last at-bat, hit one over the fence. (Kelly Lewis)

Image: Bases are loaded again — Cori Jeffords gets intentionally walked late in the game.

Bases are loaded again — Cori Jeffords gets intentionally walked late in the game. (Kelly Lewis)

Image: Bumpus up the middle — This hit was the beginning of complete chaos at home plate.

Bumpus up the middle — This hit was the beginning of complete chaos at home plate. (Kelly Lewis)

Image: Last play — Behind 8-7, Italy had the bases loaded with 2 outs but Meridian corralled the final Lady Gladiator hit of the season to get the 3rd out, leaving the Italy runners stranded…so close!

Last play — Behind 8-7, Italy had the bases loaded with 2 outs but Meridian corralled the final Lady Gladiator hit of the season to get the 3rd out, leaving the Italy runners stranded…so close! (Kelly Lewis)

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