Lady Gladiators get wins over 5A Duncanville and 2A Blooming Grove

Barry Byers Posted February 21, 2010 9:00pm Lady Gladiator Softball

Image: Drew Windham and the Lady Gladiators were ready for the Lions — Drew Windham(14) checks out the speed of the Blooming Grove pitcher while her Lady Gladiator teammates are ready to bust out of the cage against the Lady Lions. — Drew Windham and the Lady Gladiators were ready for the Lions — Drew Windham(14) checks out the speed of the Blooming Grove pitcher while her Lady Gladiator teammates are ready to bust out of the cage against the Lady Lions. (Barry Byers)

Waxahachie, Texas — On the 2nd day of the softball tournament in Waxahachie, with an 8:00 a.m. game start, the 1A Lady Gladiators took care of business against 5A Duncanville to win 7-3 on yet another brisk morning of softball.

In the 4:00 p.m. game, Lady Gladiator pitcher Courtney Westbrook recorded 14 strikeouts against the Blooming Grove Lady Lions as Italy clung to a 2-0 lead in the 7th inning.

Italy’s Bailey Bumpus hit an arching shot to the center field fence for what appeared to be a homerun. The ball slipped under the fence, and by rule, Bumpus was only allowed a double. The damage was done, however, as the effort by Bumpus scored Drew Windham to seal the deal for the Lady Gladiators in a 3-0 win over Blooming Grove.

The win gives the Lady Gladiators four straight wins in the tournament with 2 more games still to play on Saturday.

Go Lady Gladiators!

Bumpus bats — Lady Gladiator Bailey Bumpus(4) gets ready to slay the Lady Lions. (Barry Byers)

Alma Suaste — Lady Gladiator Alma Suaste(7) swings for the fences against Blooming Grove. (Barry Byers)

Bailey spots the Lions — The eyes of a Lady Gladiator. Bailey Bumpus pierces through the dust covered battle field to locate the enemy. (Barry Byers)

No problem — With a runner on base, catcher Julia McDaniel reacts to a pop-up while teammate Courtney Westbrook hauls it in near the pitcher’s mound. (Barry Byers)

Paola Mata — Lady Gladiator Paolo Mata prepares to enter the arena against the Lady Lions. (Barry Byers)

Seniors relax — Courtney and Drew are feeling good about their team’s chances. (Barry Byers)

Morgan is intense — Morgan Cockerham intensely watches the action. (Barry Byers)

Coach Windham — Lady Gladiator assistant coach Andrea Windham keeps an eye on the competition. (Barry Byers)

Paige keeps track — Paige Westbrook tracks the game for the Lady Gladiators from the dugout. (Barry Byers)

Sunflower seeds! — Morgan Cockerham, Drenda Burk and Katie Byers divvied up the sunflower seeds. (Barry Byers)

Happy to get a hit — Courtney Westbrook is all smiles at 3rd base against Blooming Grove. (Barry Byers)

Nice hit! Good Job! — Teammates congratulate Courtney Westbrook on getting a hit and scoring against the Lady Lions. (Barry Byers)

Battle tested — With her armor tathered, Lady Gladiator Meredith Brummett returns to the arena. (Barry Byers)

Still relaxing — Courtney and Drew take advantage of a break during the game against Blooming Grove. (Barry Byers)

Bumpus is back — Bailey Bumpus(4) gets set to take another at bat against the Lady Lions. (Barry Byers)

This is the life — Sisters Paige Westbrook and Courtney Westbrook lean on one another for support. (Barry Byers)

Let’s do this! — Abby Griffith and Julia McDaniel get geared up to take the field of battle. The B.I. on Julia’s sleeve continues to honor fallen Gladiator Bobby Itson. (Barry Byers)

Is this fun or what? — The girls are having fun getting the job done. (Barry Byers)

A joyful Julia — A smiling Julia McDaniel has a love for the game. (Barry Byers)

On the same team — Paige and Courtney are having a blast together. (Barry Byers)

4 down, 2 to go — Breyanna Beets packs up her gear after the Blooming Grove game and gets ready for the Maypearl game on Saturday. (Barry Byers)

Bailey loads up — Bailey Bumpus gets her gear packed up after the Lady Gladiators win 3-0 over Blooming Grove. (Barry Byers)

Nikki and Sa’Kendra — Nikki Brashear and Sa’Kendra Norwood are already thinking about the upcoming game against the Maypearl Lady Panthers. (Barry Byers)