The will of the Lady Gladiators vs. skill of Waco Reicher

Image: Breyanna Beets and Casi Jeffords talk with Coach Tina Richards — Italy JV Lady Gladiator Softball head coach Tina Richards meets at the mound with catcher Breyanna Beets and pitcher Casi Jeffords during their battle with the Waco Reicher JV Lady Cougars on Monday.

Breyanna Beets and Casi Jeffords talk with Coach Tina Richards — Italy JV Lady Gladiator Softball head coach Tina Richards meets at the mound with catcher Breyanna Beets and pitcher Casi Jeffords during their battle with the Waco Reicher JV Lady Cougars on Monday. (Barry Byers)

Image: Play at the plate — Italy’s JV pitcher Casi Jeffords tries to lend assistance as catcher Breyanna Beets tries to block the plate as a Lady Cougar comes sliding in.

Play at the plate — Italy’s JV pitcher Casi Jeffords tries to lend assistance as catcher Breyanna Beets tries to block the plate as a Lady Cougar comes sliding in. (Barry Byers)

Image: Brashear on first — Nikki Brashear gets loose on first base before the game.

Brashear on first — Nikki Brashear gets loose on first base before the game. (Barry Byers)

Image: 22’s at 2nd — JV second baseman Katie Byers throws out a Lady Cougar at first base.

22’s at 2nd — JV second baseman Katie Byers throws out a Lady Cougar at first base. (Barry Byers)

Image: Last huddle — The Italy JV Softball Team huddles one last time as their season comes to an end.

Last huddle — The Italy JV Softball Team huddles one last time as their season comes to an end. (Barry Byers)

Image: Behind the mask — Alyssa Richards catches a few pitches before the game against Waco Reicher.

Behind the mask — Alyssa Richards catches a few pitches before the game against Waco Reicher. (Barry Byers)

Image: Glad to be one — Cori Jeffords puts the “Glad” in Lady Gladiators.

Glad to be one — Cori Jeffords puts the “Glad” in Lady Gladiators. (Barry Byers)

Image: Alyssa impersonator — Meredith Brummett does her best Alyssa Richards impersonation.

Alyssa impersonator — Meredith Brummett does her best Alyssa Richards impersonation. (Barry Byers)

Image: Full count — Anna Viers holds a full count in her hands, 3 balls and 2 strikes.

Full count — Anna Viers holds a full count in her hands, 3 balls and 2 strikes. (Barry Byers)

Image: Bunting practice — Courtney Westbrook takes a few practice bunts before taking the field against Waco Reicher.

Bunting practice — Courtney Westbrook takes a few practice bunts before taking the field against Waco Reicher. (Barry Byers)

Image: Anna and Drew — Anna Viers(43) and Drew Windham(14) practice fielding grounders during the pre-game warmup.

Anna and Drew — Anna Viers(43) and Drew Windham(14) practice fielding grounders during the pre-game warmup. (Barry Byers)

Image: Cori catches — Second baseman Cori Jeffords(15) practices catching a pop-up before the game.

Cori catches — Second baseman Cori Jeffords(15) practices catching a pop-up before the game. (Barry Byers)

Image: Megan to throw — Third baseman Megan Richards(22) puts a some muscle behind her throws.

Megan to throw — Third baseman Megan Richards(22) puts a some muscle behind her throws. (Barry Byers)

Image: She’s got a cannon! — Catcher Alyssa Richards(12) rockets a throw to second base, perhaps sending a message to the visiting Lady Cougars.

She’s got a cannon! — Catcher Alyssa Richards(12) rockets a throw to second base, perhaps sending a message to the visiting Lady Cougars. (Barry Byers)

Image: Court’s on target — Pitcher Courtney Westbrook doing what she does, throwing strikes.

Court’s on target — Pitcher Courtney Westbrook doing what she does, throwing strikes. (Barry Byers)

Image: Meredith doubles — Meredith Brummett(11) hits a double off of Waco’s freshman pitching ace Sarah Beth Toben.

Meredith doubles — Meredith Brummett(11) hits a double off of Waco’s freshman pitching ace Sarah Beth Toben.

Image: Almost made it — Alyssa Richards tries to slide under the tag but the Lady Cougar catcher makes the play.

Almost made it — Alyssa Richards tries to slide under the tag but the Lady Cougar catcher makes the play. (Barry Byers)

Image: Bailey Bumpus — Bailey Bumpus(4) gets ready to swing away.

Bailey Bumpus — Bailey Bumpus(4) gets ready to swing away. (Barry Byers)

Image: Run Megan, Run! — Megan Richards(22) turns this short hit into a single.

Run Megan, Run! — Megan Richards(22) turns this short hit into a single. (Barry Byers)

Image: Alyssa smacks a double — Alyssa Richards(12) hits a double over the Lady Cougar infielders.

Alyssa smacks a double — Alyssa Richards(12) hits a double over the Lady Cougar infielders. (Barry Byers)

Image: Mata bunts — Paola Mata executes a bunt against Waco.

Mata bunts — Paola Mata executes a bunt against Waco. (Barry Byers)

Image: Drew’s ready — Drew Windham(14) stands at the ready at first base.

Drew’s ready — Drew Windham(14) stands at the ready at first base. (Barry Byers)

Image: The stare down — Italy’s Megan Richards stares down Waco Reicher pitcher, Sarah Beth Toben.

The stare down — Italy’s Megan Richards stares down Waco Reicher pitcher, Sarah Beth Toben. (Barry Byers)

Image: The old flip play — Shortstop Anna Viers(2) flips the ball to third base for a third out.

The old flip play — Shortstop Anna Viers(2) flips the ball to third base for a third out. (Barry Byers)

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