Lady Gladiators: Regional quarterfinal champs! 2-0 over Meridian

Image: Anna Viers steps on home plate for an inside the park homerun — The stinger — Italy Lady Gladiators’ freshman Anna Viers is called safe at the plate to complete her game winning, inside the park, 2-run homerun…stinging the Meridian Lady ’Jackets. Italy swept the Meridian in two games to claim the regional quarterfinal championship and remain undefeated after six games in the playoffs.

Anna Viers steps on home plate for an inside the park homerun — The stinger — Italy Lady Gladiators’ freshman Anna Viers is called safe at the plate to complete her game winning, inside the park, 2-run homerun…stinging the Meridian Lady ’Jackets. Italy swept the Meridian in two games to claim the regional quarterfinal championship and remain undefeated after six games in the playoffs. (Barry Byers)

Image: Bailey catches — Italy sophomore Bailey Bumpus catches a fly ball before the showdown with Meridian and makes a catch during the game as well.

Bailey catches — Italy sophomore Bailey Bumpus catches a fly ball before the showdown with Meridian and makes a catch during the game as well. (Barry Byers)

Image: Davis dazzles — Khadijah Davis gives 110% even before game two against Meridian started.

Davis dazzles — Khadijah Davis gives 110% even before game two against Meridian started. (Barry Byers)

Image: Piece of cake — Lady Gladiator right fielder Alma Suaste lofts the ball to catcher Alyssa Richards after completing a warm-up drill.

Piece of cake — Lady Gladiator right fielder Alma Suaste lofts the ball to catcher Alyssa Richards after completing a warm-up drill. (Barry Byers)

Image: Westbrook — Lady Gladiator pitcher Courtney Westbrook, a senior, was on target Saturday collecting six more strikeouts against Meridian to help Italy win 2-0 in game two.

Westbrook — Lady Gladiator pitcher Courtney Westbrook, a senior, was on target Saturday collecting six more strikeouts against Meridian to help Italy win 2-0 in game two. (Barry Byers)

Image: No problem — Senior first baseman Drew Windham(14) stretches out to secure the out. Windham was a First Team All-District selection for the Lady Gladiators a year ago and is expected to be again this season.

No problem — Senior first baseman Drew Windham(14) stretches out to secure the out. Windham was a First Team All-District selection for the Lady Gladiators a year ago and is expected to be again this season. (Barry Byers)

Image: Having nightmares — Senior Cori Jeffords throws to first baseman Drew Windham(14) beating a Meridian runner to the bag. Jeffords and Windham connected nine times throughout the series ensuring that Meridian’s players will have nightmares about the duo for months to come.

Having nightmares — Senior Cori Jeffords throws to first baseman Drew Windham(14) beating a Meridian runner to the bag. Jeffords and Windham connected nine times throughout the series ensuring that Meridian’s players will have nightmares about the duo for months to come. (Barry Byers)

Image: Armed and dangerous — Sophomore third baseman Megan Richards was a dead-eye with the ball and deadly at the plate during the two games against Meridian.

Armed and dangerous — Sophomore third baseman Megan Richards was a dead-eye with the ball and deadly at the plate during the two games against Meridian. (Barry Byers)

Image: Team ritual — The Lady Gladiators kept each other motivated during the 14 innings it took to win the regional quarterfinal championship over Meridian.

Team ritual — The Lady Gladiators kept each other motivated during the 14 innings it took to win the regional quarterfinal championship over Meridian. (Barry Byers)

Image: Bailey connects — Bailey Bumpus(18) drives one off the end of her bat against the Lady ’Jackets.

Bailey connects — Bailey Bumpus(18) drives one off the end of her bat against the Lady ’Jackets. (Barry Byers)

Image: Cori hurries — Second baseman Cori Jeffords tries to throw out a Lady’ Jacket runner as Bailey Bumpus backs up the play from centerfield and pitcher Courtney Wesbrook looks on.

Cori hurries — Second baseman Cori Jeffords tries to throw out a Lady’ Jacket runner as Bailey Bumpus backs up the play from centerfield and pitcher Courtney Wesbrook looks on. (Barry Byers)

Image: Megan singles — Megan Richards drops one into shallow centerfield for a single.

Megan singles — Megan Richards drops one into shallow centerfield for a single. (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior snag — Senior left fielder Meredith Brummett tracks down a fly ball to end the 4th inning as shortstop Anna Viers hustles in. Brummett also caught a fly ball for the first out in the top of the 7th inning to help seal the fate of the Meridian Lady Jackets.

Senior snag — Senior left fielder Meredith Brummett tracks down a fly ball to end the 4th inning as shortstop Anna Viers hustles in. Brummett also caught a fly ball for the first out in the top of the 7th inning to help seal the fate of the Meridian Lady Jackets. (Barry Byers)

Image: Good job, Merbear! — Italy head softball coach Jennifer Reeves congratulates Meredith Brummett on making the running catch in left field.

Good job, Merbear! — Italy head softball coach Jennifer Reeves congratulates Meredith Brummett on making the running catch in left field. (Barry Byers)

Image: The winning run — Courtney Westbrook high-fives teammate Megan Richards after crossing the plate for the first score of the game. Westbrook was brought in courtesy of a homerun hit by Anna Viers.

The winning run — Courtney Westbrook high-fives teammate Megan Richards after crossing the plate for the first score of the game. Westbrook was brought in courtesy of a homerun hit by Anna Viers. (Barry Byers)

Image: Alright, Anna! — Freshman Anna Viers gets congratulated by the Lady Gladiator dugout after hitting a 2-run, inside the park, homerun against Meridian. The effort proved to be the game two winner as Italy went on to win 2-0.

Alright, Anna! — Freshman Anna Viers gets congratulated by the Lady Gladiator dugout after hitting a 2-run, inside the park, homerun against Meridian. The effort proved to be the game two winner as Italy went on to win 2-0. (Barry Byers)

Image: Drew to the plate — What every pitcher fears, senior Drew Windham striding to the plate with that look in her eye…

Drew to the plate — What every pitcher fears, senior Drew Windham striding to the plate with that look in her eye… (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior leadership — Pitcher Courtney Westbrook encourages her teammates from the dugout.

Senior leadership — Pitcher Courtney Westbrook encourages her teammates from the dugout. (Barry Byers)

Image: Sac bunt — Alma Suaste(7) lays down a sacrifice bunt moving Meredith Brummett to second base.

Sac bunt — Alma Suaste(7) lays down a sacrifice bunt moving Meredith Brummett to second base. (Barry Byers)

Image: That’s the game — Lady Gladiators’ senior second baseman, Cori Jeffords, caps off a strong series for her and her teammates by dropping the hammer down on Meridian’s final batter. Jeffords throws to fellow senior Drew Windham, on first base, for the last out.

That’s the game — Lady Gladiators’ senior second baseman, Cori Jeffords, caps off a strong series for her and her teammates by dropping the hammer down on Meridian’s final batter. Jeffords throws to fellow senior Drew Windham, on first base, for the last out. (Barry Byers)

Image: Bring on Blue Ridge! — The “Sisters of Smash,” Megan Richards and Alyssa Richards lead the post-game chant after the Lady Gladiators win the regional quarterfinal championship over Meridian in two games: 4-1 on Thursday and 2-0 on Saturday.

Bring on Blue Ridge! — The “Sisters of Smash,” Megan Richards and Alyssa Richards lead the post-game chant after the Lady Gladiators win the regional quarterfinal championship over Meridian in two games: 4-1 on Thursday and 2-0 on Saturday. (Barry Byers)

Image: Three rounds down — Anna Viers did it all against Meridian including hitting the game winning, 2-run, homerun in Saturday’s game against Meridian. Top right: Anna breaks into a smile as she reflects on her team’s performance during the post-game speech by Italy head coach Jennifer Reeves. Italy now moves on to the fourth round of the playoffs against Blue Ridge.

Three rounds down — Anna Viers did it all against Meridian including hitting the game winning, 2-run, homerun in Saturday’s game against Meridian. Top right: Anna breaks into a smile as she reflects on her team’s performance during the post-game speech by Italy head coach Jennifer Reeves. Italy now moves on to the fourth round of the playoffs against Blue Ridge. (Barry Byers)

Image: Loving the game — Freshman catcher Alyssa “Bone Crusher” Richards has been a huge part of the Lady Gladiators’ 6-0 playoff run. In Saturday’s game against Meridian, Richards caught a foul ball while crashing into the backstop. The backstop was a brick wall by the way. Top: Alyssa gets a hug from her grandfather Greg Richards. A former little league baseball coach, Greg currently has five grandchildren playing softball and/or baseball in Italy.

Loving the game — Freshman catcher Alyssa “Bone Crusher” Richards has been a huge part of the Lady Gladiators’ 6-0 playoff run. In Saturday’s game against Meridian, Richards caught a foul ball while crashing into the backstop. The backstop was a brick wall by the way. Top: Alyssa gets a hug from her grandfather Greg Richards. A former little league baseball coach, Greg currently has five grandchildren playing softball and/or baseball in Italy. (Barry Byers)

Image: One step closer… — Senior pitcher Courtney Westbrook never waivered, never stopped battling and never quit believing that her Lady Gladiators would prevail. Westbrook and her team are now one step closer as they move on to the regional semi-final round.

One step closer… — Senior pitcher Courtney Westbrook never waivered, never stopped battling and never quit believing that her Lady Gladiators would prevail. Westbrook and her team are now one step closer as they move on to the regional semi-final round. (Barry Byers)

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