Lady Gladiators win 2 straight to become bi-district champions

Image: Pitcher Megan Richards was dominant against DeLeon — Italy pitcher Megan Richards split time with teammate Courtney Westbrook as the two combined their efforts this weekend to lead the Lady Gladiators in two straight wins over DeLeon, 3-2 and 1-0, to claim the bi-district championship.

Pitcher Megan Richards was dominant against DeLeon — Italy pitcher Megan Richards split time with teammate Courtney Westbrook as the two combined their efforts this weekend to lead the Lady Gladiators in two straight wins over DeLeon, 3-2 and 1-0, to claim the bi-district championship. (Barry Byers)

Image: Always dusty — Hard working Lady Gladiator catcher Alyssa Richards is always covered in sand and dust in her photos. Richards warms up her sister Megan Richards who was on the mound against DeLeon.

Always dusty — Hard working Lady Gladiator catcher Alyssa Richards is always covered in sand and dust in her photos. Richards warms up her sister Megan Richards who was on the mound against DeLeon. (Barry Byers)

Image: Drew delivers — Drew Windham hits a single in the top of the 5th inning against DeLeon.

Drew delivers — Drew Windham hits a single in the top of the 5th inning against DeLeon. (Barry Byers)

Image: Cori advances — Cori jeffords heads for second base after hitting a single in the top of the 7th inning.

Cori advances — Cori jeffords heads for second base after hitting a single in the top of the 7th inning. (Barry Byers)

Image: Here’s the plan — Lady Gladiator Coach Jennifer Reeves talks shop with Megan Richards before her at bat.

Here’s the plan — Lady Gladiator Coach Jennifer Reeves talks shop with Megan Richards before her at bat. (Barry Byers)

Image: Megan’s a hit — Megan Richards gets into the swing of things in Glen Rose.

Megan’s a hit — Megan Richards gets into the swing of things in Glen Rose. (Barry Byers)

Image: Windham watches — Drew Windham is at the ready on second base.

Windham watches — Drew Windham is at the ready on second base. (Barry Byers)

Image: One giant step — Courtney Westbrook tries to lead off with a hit to help lead her Lady Gladiator teammates one step closer to a state title.

One giant step — Courtney Westbrook tries to lead off with a hit to help lead her Lady Gladiator teammates one step closer to a state title. (Barry Byers)

Image: Anna gets on — Anna Viers hits on to start the action in the top of the 6th inning.

Anna gets on — Anna Viers hits on to start the action in the top of the 6th inning. (Barry Byers)

Image: Teamwork — Stay! Bailey Bumpus yells to teammate Anna Viers to stay on the bag after Viers stole second base.

Teamwork — Stay! Bailey Bumpus yells to teammate Anna Viers to stay on the bag after Viers stole second base. (Barry Byers)

Image: Anna steals third — Anna Viers reaches third base for Italy with the game still tied 0-0 in the top of the 6th inning.

Anna steals third — Anna Viers reaches third base for Italy with the game still tied 0-0 in the top of the 6th inning. (Barry Byers)

Image: Bases loaded! — With Anna Viers on third, Bailey Bumpus on second and Alyssa Richards on first base, senior Drew Windham battles with the DeLeon pitcher and eventually forces a wild pitch that allows Viers to score from third.

Bases loaded! — With Anna Viers on third, Bailey Bumpus on second and Alyssa Richards on first base, senior Drew Windham battles with the DeLeon pitcher and eventually forces a wild pitch that allows Viers to score from third. (Barry Byers)

Image: The winning run — Anna “Hollywood” Viers steps on home plate to score what ultimately was the winning run to beat the DeLeon Lady Cats 1-0 in game two of the best 2-out of-3 bi-district series. Viers accounted for 3 of the 4 runs scored by the Lady Gladiators over the course of the two victories against DeLeon.

The winning run — Anna “Hollywood” Viers steps on home plate to score what ultimately was the winning run to beat the DeLeon Lady Cats 1-0 in game two of the best 2-out of-3 bi-district series. Viers accounted for 3 of the 4 runs scored by the Lady Gladiators over the course of the two victories against DeLeon. (Barry Byers)

Image: “Doo-ay” — The Lady Gladiators are just 1 out away from claiming the Bi-District Championship.

“Doo-ay” — The Lady Gladiators are just 1 out away from claiming the Bi-District Championship. (Barry Byers)

Image: Thrill of victory! — The Lady Gladiators let their fans back in Italy know they just won the bi-district championship! A cell phone would work but this was much more fun.

Thrill of victory! — The Lady Gladiators let their fans back in Italy know they just won the bi-district championship! A cell phone would work but this was much more fun. (Barry Byers)

Image: We did it! — The Lady Gladiators get ready to take on Tolar next.

We did it! — The Lady Gladiators get ready to take on Tolar next. (Barry Byers)

Image: A touch of gold — Senior pitcher Courtney Westbrook had the right touch by holding DeLeon scoreless in the first few innings of game two and then finished the game at third base.

A touch of gold — Senior pitcher Courtney Westbrook had the right touch by holding DeLeon scoreless in the first few innings of game two and then finished the game at third base. (Barry Byers)

Image: Just breathe — Meredith Brummett, Cori Jeffords and Casi Jeffords try to get a handle on the moment after defeating DeLeon with a dramatic 1-0 win to become bi-district champions.

Just breathe — Meredith Brummett, Cori Jeffords and Casi Jeffords try to get a handle on the moment after defeating DeLeon with a dramatic 1-0 win to become bi-district champions. (Barry Byers)

Image: We are #1 — Drew Windham holds up the number one sign as does Alyssa Richards in the background while Alma Suaste grabs her gear to head home bi-district champions.

We are #1 — Drew Windham holds up the number one sign as does Alyssa Richards in the background while Alma Suaste grabs her gear to head home bi-district champions. (Barry Byers)

Image: Smiling sisters — Sisters Cori and Casi Jeffords celebrate the Lady Gladiators’ bi-district win over DeLeon.

Smiling sisters — Sisters Cori and Casi Jeffords celebrate the Lady Gladiators’ bi-district win over DeLeon. (Barry Byers)

Image: Our hero! — Bailey Bumpus gets hugged by family members after making the game winning catch in center field to preserve the bi-district championship for the Lady Gladiators.

Our hero! — Bailey Bumpus gets hugged by family members after making the game winning catch in center field to preserve the bi-district championship for the Lady Gladiators. (Barry Byers)

Image: Wait for me! — The catcher is always last. Don’t worry Alyssa, the bus wouldn’t leave without you.

Wait for me! — The catcher is always last. Don’t worry Alyssa, the bus wouldn’t leave without you. (Barry Byers)

Image: Smiling all the way home — Katie Byers and Drew Windham are happy to be leaving Glen Rose as bi-district champions!

Smiling all the way home — Katie Byers and Drew Windham are happy to be leaving Glen Rose as bi-district champions! (Barry Byers)

Image: Making a point — The Italy Lady Gladiators needed just one run, just one pitch and just one catch to win the bi-district championship and the right to hold up just one finger.

Making a point — The Italy Lady Gladiators needed just one run, just one pitch and just one catch to win the bi-district championship and the right to hold up just one finger. (Barry Byers)

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