Lady Gladiators defeat Tolar in two games to claim area championship

Image: Anna Viers and the Lady Gladiators slide past Tolar for area — Sliding into third base is Italy freshman, Anna Viers, who helped the Lady Gladiators win the area championship by defeating the Tolar Lady Rattlers 7-0 in game one on Friday and with a dramatic rally to win game two on Saturday, 9-8.

Anna Viers and the Lady Gladiators slide past Tolar for area — Sliding into third base is Italy freshman, Anna Viers, who helped the Lady Gladiators win the area championship by defeating the Tolar Lady Rattlers 7-0 in game one on Friday and with a dramatic rally to win game two on Saturday, 9-8. (Barry Byers)

Image: Pitching grenades — Senior pitcher Courtney Westbrook(10) was the General on top of the hill helping to lead the Lady Gladiators to 4 straight wins in the playoffs and a bi-district championship over DeLeon and now the area championship over Tolar. Westbrook had 9 strikouts against Tolar in game 1 on Friday.

Pitching grenades — Senior pitcher Courtney Westbrook(10) was the General on top of the hill helping to lead the Lady Gladiators to 4 straight wins in the playoffs and a bi-district championship over DeLeon and now the area championship over Tolar. Westbrook had 9 strikouts against Tolar in game 1 on Friday. (Barry Byers)

Image: Megan triples — Stay! Italy head coach Jennifer Reeves directs Megan Richards to stay on the third base bag after Richards tripled to score 1 run against Tolar Friday in the top of the 1st inning.

Megan triples — Stay! Italy head coach Jennifer Reeves directs Megan Richards to stay on the third base bag after Richards tripled to score 1 run against Tolar Friday in the top of the 1st inning. (Barry Byers)

Image: Alyssa pops one — Freshman Alyssa Richards tries knock in her sister, sophomore Megan Richards, as Italy manages to knock Tolar out of the playoffs for the second year in a row.

Alyssa pops one — Freshman Alyssa Richards tries knock in her sister, sophomore Megan Richards, as Italy manages to knock Tolar out of the playoffs for the second year in a row. (Barry Byers)

Image: Good eyes — Senior slugger Cori Jeffords watches the ball all the way into the catchers mitt.

Good eyes — Senior slugger Cori Jeffords watches the ball all the way into the catchers mitt. (Barry Byers)

Image: Cori connects — Italy’s Cori Jeffords had a strong hitting game against Tolar in game one to help the Lady Gladiators win 7-0 and take control in a best 2-out of-3 series for the area championship.

Cori connects — Italy’s Cori Jeffords had a strong hitting game against Tolar in game one to help the Lady Gladiators win 7-0 and take control in a best 2-out of-3 series for the area championship. (Barry Byers)

Image: The chosen one — Alyssa Richards has been blessed by the softball gods as she prepares to hit one toward the heavens.

The chosen one — Alyssa Richards has been blessed by the softball gods as she prepares to hit one toward the heavens. (Barry Byers)

Image: Foul ball — Italy Gladiator Jasenio Anderson sits with teammate Colton Campbell as Anderson collects a foul ball while watching the Lady Gladiators take on Tolar at Fort Worth Brewer High School.

Foul ball — Italy Gladiator Jasenio Anderson sits with teammate Colton Campbell as Anderson collects a foul ball while watching the Lady Gladiators take on Tolar at Fort Worth Brewer High School. (Barry Byers)

Image: A better grip — Bailey Bumpus was a force at the plate on Friday earning 2 RBIs, hitting a double and coming up just a few feet short of sending one over the wall in left field.

A better grip — Bailey Bumpus was a force at the plate on Friday earning 2 RBIs, hitting a double and coming up just a few feet short of sending one over the wall in left field. (Barry Byers)

Image: We got this — The Lady Gladiators are were looking good on Friday and Courtney Westbrook new it.

We got this — The Lady Gladiators are were looking good on Friday and Courtney Westbrook new it. (Barry Byers)

Image: Strike Three! — Courtney Westbrook pitches strike three to catcher Alyssa Richards late in game one against Tolar. Westbrook delivered a total of 9 strike three pitches on Friday.

Strike Three! — Courtney Westbrook pitches strike three to catcher Alyssa Richards late in game one against Tolar. Westbrook delivered a total of 9 strike three pitches on Friday. (Barry Byers)

Image: Viers drives — Anna Viers powers a grounder past Tolar’s infield.

Viers drives — Anna Viers powers a grounder past Tolar’s infield. (Barry Byers)

Image: Out at second! — Italy’s shortstop Anna Viers dives for a tag to keep the Tolar Lady Rattlers from slithering to 2nd base in game one.

Out at second! — Italy’s shortstop Anna Viers dives for a tag to keep the Tolar Lady Rattlers from slithering to 2nd base in game one. (Barry Byers)

Image: Cloud of dust — Pitcher Courtney Westbrook, second baseman Cori Jeffords and the rest of the Italy Lady Gladiators breeze past Tolar in game 1 with a 7-0 victory.

Cloud of dust — Pitcher Courtney Westbrook, second baseman Cori Jeffords and the rest of the Italy Lady Gladiators breeze past Tolar in game 1 with a 7-0 victory. (Barry Byers)

Image: Top secret — Italy head coach Jennifer Reeves explains the strategy to Drew Windham before Windham goes up to the plate.

Top secret — Italy head coach Jennifer Reeves explains the strategy to Drew Windham before Windham goes up to the plate. (Barry Byers)

Image: 14’s a hitter — Drew Windham(14) drives one past the Lady Rattler infielders as her Lady Gladiator teammates urge her on from the dugout.

14’s a hitter — Drew Windham(14) drives one past the Lady Rattler infielders as her Lady Gladiator teammates urge her on from the dugout. (Barry Byers)

Image: Bump thumps it — Bailey Bumpus lifts the ball over Tolar’s defense for a double.

Bump thumps it — Bailey Bumpus lifts the ball over Tolar’s defense for a double. (Barry Byers)

Image: Not over yet — Megan Richards and Drew Windham high-five the Lady Rattlers after Italy wins game one on Friday.

Not over yet — Megan Richards and Drew Windham high-five the Lady Rattlers after Italy wins game one on Friday. (Barry Byers)

Image: One good eye — Senior Meredith “Mer Bear” Brummett was limited to designated hitting on Friday while nursing a broken nose. “Mer Bear” made the best of it by hitting in a run and drilling a double against the Lady Rattlers.

One good eye — Senior Meredith “Mer Bear” Brummett was limited to designated hitting on Friday while nursing a broken nose. “Mer Bear” made the best of it by hitting in a run and drilling a double against the Lady Rattlers. (Barry Byers)

Image: Drew and Sierra — Drew Windham celebrates with Sierra Harris as the Lady Gladiators exit the Fort Worth Brewer field on Friday a 1-0 lead in the series against Tolar.

Drew and Sierra — Drew Windham celebrates with Sierra Harris as the Lady Gladiators exit the Fort Worth Brewer field on Friday a 1-0 lead in the series against Tolar. (Barry Byers)

Image: Raptor Mode — Lady Gladiator shortstop Anna Viers goes “raptor mode” to help defeat the Tolar Lady Rattlers in game one.

Raptor Mode — Lady Gladiator shortstop Anna Viers goes “raptor mode” to help defeat the Tolar Lady Rattlers in game one. (Barry Byers)

Image: Alyssa in action — Lady Gladiator catcher Alyssa Richards continues her superior play in the playoffs and has been a big part of the team’s four straight wins in the playoffs, 3 of which were decided by only 1-point.

Alyssa in action — Lady Gladiator catcher Alyssa Richards continues her superior play in the playoffs and has been a big part of the team’s four straight wins in the playoffs, 3 of which were decided by only 1-point. (Elaine Richards/Barry Byers)

Image: “The Megahit” — Megan Richards is in the moment as she rips a triple to right field to win game 2 for the Lady Gladiators in dramatic fashion. Down 8-4, facing two outs and heading into the bottom of the 7th inning, Megan’s shot sealed Italy’s a 11-8 comeback win and propels them into the regional quarterfinals against Meridian.

“The Megahit” — Megan Richards is in the moment as she rips a triple to right field to win game 2 for the Lady Gladiators in dramatic fashion. Down 8-4, facing two outs and heading into the bottom of the 7th inning, Megan’s shot sealed Italy’s a 11-8 comeback win and propels them into the regional quarterfinals against Meridian. (Elaine Richards)

Image: Allen’s proud — Allen Richards holds his oldest two daughters, Alyssa and Megan, after their dramatic come from behind effort to win 9-8 over Tolar. Allen’s youngest daughter, Brycelen (not pictured), is growing up Lady Gladiator as well.

Allen’s proud — Allen Richards holds his oldest two daughters, Alyssa and Megan, after their dramatic come from behind effort to win 9-8 over Tolar. Allen’s youngest daughter, Brycelen (not pictured), is growing up Lady Gladiator as well. (Elaine Richards)

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