The JV Lady Gladiators wrap up their season:

With Casi Jeffords at the mound, the JV Lady Gladiatiors were hoping to finish the season with a win. Unfortunately, the Waco Reicher JV Lady Cougars were just as eager for a win and were in attack mode from the opening pitch.

Top of 1st:
Waco loaded the bases against Jeffords to score 4 quick runs. Nikki Brashear gets under a pop-up to first base to get the much needed third out for Italy.

Bottom of 1st
Paola Mata hits a shot to Waco’s shortstop but it’s well played for the first out. Italy’s next batter strikes out. Breyanna Beets belts a line drive to Waco’s shortstop again and beats the throw to first base for a single. Beets is thrown out trying to steel third by the Lady Cougar’s catcher. Italy retakes the field.

Top of 2nd:
Khadijah Davis fields a grounder at third base and guns down the Lady Cougar at first, one out. The Lady Cougars refuse to bite on any low pitches and get runners on base. With the score 6-0 and the bases loaded, Waco gets walked three more times to take a 9-0 lead. With the a 5 run limit in effect, Italy gets a chance to regroup with Coach Tina Richards, outside their dugout.

Bottom of 2nd:
Desperately needing a momentum swing, Brashear starts things off with a walk for the JV Lady Gladiators. Sierra Harris hits into an out but advances Brashear to third base. Khadijah Davis singles to score Brashear and then steals second base. 9-1 Waco leads. The next Italy batter strikes out but Katie Byers gets walked to put runners on first and second.

Jeffords gets hit in the foot by a wild pitch and Italy loads the bases. Mary Tate blasts one into the Lady Cougar outfield for a tripple-bagger. Davis, Byers and Jeffords score to narrow the deficit 9-4. Tate steals home on the next pitch as Italy get the maximum 5 runs allowed, 9-5 Waco still leading.

Top of 3rd:
Italy’s Morgan Cockerham takes over for Jeffords at the mound. Waco gets back-to-back singles to get runners on second and third. A Lady Cougar steals home to increase Waco’s lead 10-5. Two more Lady Cougars cross the plate to make the score 12-5 and the game ends due to the time limit.

The JV Lady Gladiators huddled one last time in a display of unity knowing their best games are still ahead of them.

Lady Gladiators tested against Waco Reicher:

In a non-district matchup with the 4A TAPPS Waco Reicher Lady Cougars (25-3), the Italy Lady Gladiators had a chance to see how they faired against a strong program.

Waco, lead by freshman pitcher #4 Sarah Beth Toben, who is 19-2 from the mound as a starter, definitely frustrated Lady Gladiator hitters on Monday. With that said, Italy still managed to get runners on the bases forcing the Lady Cougars to earn this one.

Top of 1st:
Waco starts off the game with a single followed by a triple to go up 1-0. A double scores another run for Waco. Before the dust stirred up by Italy when they took the field even had a chance to settle, the Lady Cougars already had a 2-0 advantage. Pitcher Courtney Westbrook catches a pop-up to get the first out for the Lady Gladiators.

A second out was awarded the Lady Gladiators after a Lady Cougar runner interfered with Italy’s shortstop Anna Viers during a play. Waco hit to Viers who beat the runner to first base with a throw to Drew Windham for the third out.

Bottom of 1st:
Westbrook races to first after the Waco catcher mishandled the third strike pitch. Waco’s first baseman is unable to secure the high throw and Westbrook is safe at first. Windham hits into an out at first and Westbrook steals second but is unable to beat the tag at third as Waco gets a double play. The next Italy batter strikes out and Waco grabs their bats still leading 2-0.

Top of 2nd:
Westbrook strikes out the first Lady Cougar. Waco answers with a triple. Westbrook earns another strikeout. Windham comes rushing in from first base to get under a pop-up near the pitcher’s mound for the third out. Waco is unable to add onto their 2-0 lead.

Bottom of 2nd:
On the second pitch from Toben, Alyssa Richards drills a double into the Lady Cougar outfield. Italy’s next batter strikes out. Meredith Brummett smacks a double sending Alyssa Richards sliding into home. Unfortunately for the Lady Gladiators, the Cougar catcher gets awarded the tag and keeps Italy off the scoreboard.

Italy’s Cori Jeffords stretches a single into a double. However, the Lady Cougars get a 3rd out leaving Brummett and Jeffords stranded at second and third.

Top of 3rd:
Waco singles to lead off. The Lady Cougar runner eventually steals second base. Megan Richards fields a grounder at third base, holds the runner at second, and throws to Windham at first for the first out. Waco rips a triple to the left field fence to make the score 3-0. Viers hustles from her shortstop position to catch a pop-up behind third base, calling off Megan Richards who’s base was occupied.

With two outs, Waco hits a long ball to right field. Mata, in right field, stayed with it and threw to Jeffords, at the cutoff. Jeffords then gunned it home to Alyssa Richards who tagged the sliding Lady Cougar at the plate for out number three. The runner on third scored during the play to give Waco a 4-0 lead.

Bottom of 3rd:
Waco’s Toben strikes out Italy’s first batter and then Mata hits into an out at first base. Westbrook singles down the third base line and then steals second base. Windham grounds out as Waco’s infielders continue to make plays.

Top of 4th:
Westbrook strikes out the first Lady Cougar batter. Waco then flies out to right field with Mata making the grab. Westbrook fields a tapper hit to the hill and throws to Jeffords covering first from her second base position. Italy gets three up, three down and heads to the dugout.

Bottom of 4th:
Speedster Megan Richards turns a 3-footer into a single with help from an overthrow at 1st base. Italy’s next batter hits into an out. Megan Richards steals second. Viers hits a line-drive to short but the play catches Megan Richards in a run down between second and third base for out number two. Viers then steals second base by sliding under the tag. Viers tries to steal 3rd but is unable to avoid the tag for out number three.

Top of 5th:
Italy defense keeps Waco from adding to their lead but the Lady Cougar’s are still in control with a 4-0 advantage.

Bottom of 5th:
Waco’s defense is equally stingy and continues to keep Italy out of the scoring column.

Top of 6th
A grounder is fielded by Westbrook who throws to Windham for the out at first base. Brummett catches a pop-up to left field for out number two. Waco doubles. Waco hits again and the Lady Cougar beats the throw to first. Westbrook strikes out the next Waco batter leaving two Lady Cougars’ stranded.

Bottom of 6th:
Toben strikes out Italy’s lead off batter. Westbrook hits but gets thrown out at first base. Windham gets walked but gets caught stealing second base for the third out.

Top of 7th:
With two strikes and no balls, Waco’s lead off batter singles. Westbrook strikes out the second batter but the Lady Cougars eventually get two on base. Westbrook gets another strikeout. Waco’s next batter, singles to make the score 5-0 with runners still at first and second. Waco singles to make the score 6-0 with runners at first and second again.

Waco hits to short. Viers dives to make the catch and flips the ball to Megan Richards on third for the last out.

Bottom of 7th:
Ahead 6-0, Waco’s Toben strikes out Italy’s first batter. Alyssa Richards pops out to left field. Viers hits but is unable to beat the throw to first base for the final out of the game. Waco wins 6-0 but don’t be surprised if the Lady Gladiators gain some confidence despite the loss.

Go Lady Gladiators!