Lady Gladiators win game 1 of regional quarterfinal against Meridian

Image: Cori Jeffords(15) flips the ball to Drew Windham(14) for an out — Lady Gladiator second baseman Cori Jeffords(15) made defensive play after defensive play against Meridian in game one of the best 2-out of-3 regional quarterfinal-series on Thursday in Joshua. First baseman Drew Windham(14) caught every ball Jeffords tossed her as the two combined for 5 outs.

Cori Jeffords(15) flips the ball to Drew Windham(14) for an out — Lady Gladiator second baseman Cori Jeffords(15) made defensive play after defensive play against Meridian in game one of the best 2-out of-3 regional quarterfinal-series on Thursday in Joshua. First baseman Drew Windham(14) caught every ball Jeffords tossed her as the two combined for 5 outs. (Barry Byers)

Image: Anna takes a swing — Anna Viers(6) tries to get the softball rolling for the Lady Gladiators against Meridian.

Anna takes a swing — Anna Viers(6) tries to get the softball rolling for the Lady Gladiators against Meridian. (Barry Byers)

Image: Great grab — Center fielder Bailey Bumpus makes another great playoff grab early in game one against Meridian as second baseman Cori Jeffords(15) wisely pulls back at the last moment.

Great grab — Center fielder Bailey Bumpus makes another great playoff grab early in game one against Meridian as second baseman Cori Jeffords(15) wisely pulls back at the last moment. (Barry Byers)

Image: Windham hits — Drew Windham(14) continues to have a hot bat in the playoffs.

Windham hits — Drew Windham(14) continues to have a hot bat in the playoffs. (Barry Byers)

Image: What’s ump? — The umpire exchanges softballs with Lady Gladiator pitcher Courtney Westbrook and a few words as well.

What’s ump? — The umpire exchanges softballs with Lady Gladiator pitcher Courtney Westbrook and a few words as well. (Barry Byers)

Image: Inching closer — Megan Richards and the Lady Gladiators inch one step closer to a regional quarterfinal title after surprising Meridian with a 4-1, game one win.

Inching closer — Megan Richards and the Lady Gladiators inch one step closer to a regional quarterfinal title after surprising Meridian with a 4-1, game one win. (Barry Byers)

Image: Alyssa reacts — Catcher Alyssa Richards looks up searching for a foul ball popped up by Meridian.

Alyssa reacts — Catcher Alyssa Richards looks up searching for a foul ball popped up by Meridian. (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior management — Senior first baseman Drew Windham(14) consults with senior pitcher Courtney Westbrook(10) on the mound in Joshua. Lady Gladiators Softball, Inc. is officially in business.

Senior management — Senior first baseman Drew Windham(14) consults with senior pitcher Courtney Westbrook(10) on the mound in Joshua. Lady Gladiators Softball, Inc. is officially in business. (Barry Byers)

Image: Into the game — The Lady Gladiator dugout keeps their eyes on the action.

Into the game — The Lady Gladiator dugout keeps their eyes on the action. (Barry Byers)

Image: Alma singles — Alma Suaste(7) gets coached up by Tina Richards after hitting one off the glove of Meridian’s pitcher.

Alma singles — Alma Suaste(7) gets coached up by Tina Richards after hitting one off the glove of Meridian’s pitcher. (Barry Byers)

Image: Rounding third — Alma Suaste(7) rounds third base and heads home to put Italy on the board first.

Rounding third — Alma Suaste(7) rounds third base and heads home to put Italy on the board first. (Barry Byers)

Image: Drew gets swarmed — After being thrown out at second base, Drew Windham disrupts the Lady ’Jacket celebration.

Drew gets swarmed — After being thrown out at second base, Drew Windham disrupts the Lady ’Jacket celebration. (Barry Byers)

Image: Be a hitter — Apparantly, Italy head coach Jennifer Reeves told Cori Jeffords(15) to hit a homerun…because Jeffords did to give Italy a 2-0 lead.

Be a hitter — Apparantly, Italy head coach Jennifer Reeves told Cori Jeffords(15) to hit a homerun…because Jeffords did to give Italy a 2-0 lead. (Barry Byers)

Image: Jeffords steps it up — Cori Jeffords(15) steps up to the plate and rockets a 220 foot homerun over the Meridian defense and over the centerfield fence in Joshua. History repeats itself as Jeffords duplicated her over the fence homerun effort from a year ago against Meridian during this same regional quarterfinal matchup.

Jeffords steps it up — Cori Jeffords(15) steps up to the plate and rockets a 220 foot homerun over the Meridian defense and over the centerfield fence in Joshua. History repeats itself as Jeffords duplicated her over the fence homerun effort from a year ago against Meridian during this same regional quarterfinal matchup. (Barry Byers)

Image: Reeves is pumped — Italy head coach Jennifer Reeves is pumped up after the over the fence solo homerun blast by Cori Jeffords.

Reeves is pumped — Italy head coach Jennifer Reeves is pumped up after the over the fence solo homerun blast by Cori Jeffords. (Barry Byers)

Image: Another out — Cori Jeffords(15) makes the stop and then throws to first baseman Drew Windham(14) for an out.

Another out — Cori Jeffords(15) makes the stop and then throws to first baseman Drew Windham(14) for an out. (Barry Byers)

Image: Worth fighting for — Italy’s defense prepares to defend their 2-0 lead against the Meridian Lady ’Jackets.

Worth fighting for — Italy’s defense prepares to defend their 2-0 lead against the Meridian Lady ’Jackets. (Barry Byers)

Image: Courtney comes thru — Battling a headache as well as Meridian’s batters, Italy pitcher Courtney Westbrook never waivered and lead the Lady Gladiators to a 4-1 win.

Courtney comes thru — Battling a headache as well as Meridian’s batters, Italy pitcher Courtney Westbrook never waivered and lead the Lady Gladiators to a 4-1 win. (Barry Byers)

Image: Strike three on display — Catcher Alyssa Richards displays the strike three thrown by pitcher Courtney Westbrook since the Meridian batter missed it the first time it passed by.

Strike three on display — Catcher Alyssa Richards displays the strike three thrown by pitcher Courtney Westbrook since the Meridian batter missed it the first time it passed by. (Barry Byers)

Image: Strike! — Alyssa Richards catches a strike thrown right down the middle by Courtney Westbrook.

Strike! — Alyssa Richards catches a strike thrown right down the middle by Courtney Westbrook. (Barry Byers)

Image: Winning pose — OMG! Courtney Westbrook, Coach Jennifer Reeves and Drew Windham actually mug for the camera during a timeout. That’s confidence!

Winning pose — OMG! Courtney Westbrook, Coach Jennifer Reeves and Drew Windham actually mug for the camera during a timeout. That’s confidence! (Barry Byers)

Image: Anticipating the bunt — Italy’s first baseman Drew Windham(14) creeps up expecting Meridian to attempt a bunt in an effort to advance the Lady ’Jacket runner to second base.

Anticipating the bunt — Italy’s first baseman Drew Windham(14) creeps up expecting Meridian to attempt a bunt in an effort to advance the Lady ’Jacket runner to second base. (Barry Byers)

Image: Cori plays insane — Second baseman Cori Jeffords rushes up to catch a pop-up before it touches sand while teammates Anna Viers and Bailey Bumpus back Jeffords up. Jeffords also ended the game with a similar shoestring catch and finished with four caught fly balls.

Cori plays insane — Second baseman Cori Jeffords rushes up to catch a pop-up before it touches sand while teammates Anna Viers and Bailey Bumpus back Jeffords up. Jeffords also ended the game with a similar shoestring catch and finished with four caught fly balls. (Barry Byers)

Image: We did it! — Senior Meredith Brummett tries to get a handle on the moment after the game one win over Meridian. The Lady Gladiators are riding a 5-game playoff winning streak and will try to end the series against the Meridian Lady ’Jackets this Saturday at 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. if needed.

We did it! — Senior Meredith Brummett tries to get a handle on the moment after the game one win over Meridian. The Lady Gladiators are riding a 5-game playoff winning streak and will try to end the series against the Meridian Lady ’Jackets this Saturday at 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. if needed. (Barry Byers)

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