Lady Gladiators force a game 3 against Blue Ridge

Barry Byers Posted May 21, 2010 11:30pm Lady Gladiator Softball

Image: Defining moment: Lady Gladiators show grit, tie series 1-1 — The Italy Lady Gladiators softball team overcame a game one loss to win game two, tying the regional semi-final series with Blue Ridge 1-1. A third and deciding game three will be Saturday, May 22 at 12:00 p.m. at Warren Middle School in Forney. — Defining moment: Lady Gladiators show grit, tie series 1-1 — The Italy Lady Gladiators softball team overcame a game one loss to win game two, tying the regional semi-final series with Blue Ridge 1-1. A third and deciding game three will be Saturday, May 22 at 12:00 p.m. at Warren Middle School in Forney. (Barry Byers)

Forney — The 1A Regional Semifinal Championship between the Italy Lady Gladiators (26-7) and the Blue Ridge Lady Tigers (26-9) is still up for grabs after the two teams split wins on Thursday.

In the best 2-out of-3 playoff series, Blue Ridge took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the 1st inning. Italy’s Cori Jeffords singled to score Megan Richards from third base in the top of the 6th to close the deficit 2-1.

Blue Ridge added 2 more runs, with 4 hits, in the top of the 7th building a 4-1 advantage. The Lady Gladiators were unable to rally during their last at bat allowing Blue Ridge to celebrate their game one victory, 4-1 over Italy.

In game 2, Italy’s Richards doubled in the top of the 1st and was knocked in after another Jeffords single to centerfield. Lady Gladiator pitcher Courtney Westbrook returned to the mound after going 7 innings in game one. Blue Ridge fired back with 3 hits in the bottom of the 1st to tie the score 1-1.

After loading the bases in the top of the 2nd inning, Italy forces Blue Ridge to make a pitching change. With 2-outs, Megan Richards doubles into the right field gap to score Meredith Brummett and Alma Suaste, reclaiming the lead for Italy 3-1.

In the top of the 3rd, Italy’s Drew Windham dropped one into the left field gap for a single. Bailey Bumpus hit but gets thrown at at first. Blue Ridge went for he double play at second base but an overthrow allowed Windham to run home and grow the Lady Gladiator lead 4-1.

In the top of the 5th, Brummett doubled to score both Alyssa Richards and Jeffords to increase the Lady Gladiators lead 6-1.

Megan Richards replaces Westbrook on the mound in the bottom of the 5th. Blue Ridge loaded the bases but a grounder hit to Italy’s Anna Viers at shortstop, who flipped the ball to Jeffords covering second, got Italy off the field.

In the top of the 6th inning, Italy loads the bases against Blue Ridge but takes a third strike swinging for the 3rd out keeping the score 6-1. Blue Ridge continued hitting in the bottom half of the inning to load the bases against Italy once again. After making the score 6-2, a single to left field scored two more runs to close in on Italy 6-4.

Italy finally put the game away in the top of the 7th. After Bumpus and Brummett both walked, Suaste doubled to left field scoring Bumpus, 7-4 Italy leads. Megan Richards singled to score Brummett from third, 8-4 Italy. Alyssa Richards knocked in Suaste to make the score 9-4.

With Blue Ridge unable to respond in the bottom of the 7th, game two ended with the Lady Gladiators tying the series 1-1 winning 9-4. Both teams will return to Warren Middle School in Forney to play the third and deciding game on Saturday, May 22 at 12:00 p.m.

Go Lady Gladiators!

Alyssa Richards — Lady Gladiator catcher Alyssa Richards warms-up her pitcher before the game. (Barry Byers)

Anna Viers — Anna Viers gets the job done at shortstop for the Lady Gladiators. (Barry Byers)

Game one — The Lady Gladiators prepare to play game one of a double-header against the Blue Ridge Lady Tigers. (Barry Byers)

Loving to play — Anna’s shades say it all. (Barry Byers)

Courtney Westbrook — Westbrook pitched 12 and a half innings against Blue Ridge in two games helping the Lady Gladiators tie the series 1-1. (Barry Byers)

Bailey in centerfield — Bailey Bumpus had an exceptional day in centerfield for the Lady Gladiators snagging several fly balls while on the run. (Barry Byers)

Anna at the plate — Italy’s Anna Viers takes on Blue Ridge Lady Tiger pitcher Haleigh Pierce. (Barry Byers)

Alyssa connects — Alyssa Richards pounded away at the Lady Tigers. (Barry Byers)

Ripping the Tigers — Courtney Westbrook claws at the Blue Ridge Lady Tiger batters. (Barry Byers)

Almost, Drew! — Drew Windham almost beats the throw to first base in game one. Blue Ridge won the opener 4-1 but lost the second game of the double header 9-4 against Italy. (Barry Byers)

Courtney hits — Courtney Westbrook tries to hit her way onto first base. (Barry Byers)

Getting angry — Anna Viers is not happy with her teams results as game one came to an end. Don’t make her angry. (Barry Byers)

Drew swings hard — Drew Windham tries to make something happen against Blue Ridge. (Barry Byers)

Bumpus scans field — Bailey Bumpus checks her grip before stepping into the batter’s box. (Barry Byers)

Bump smacks it — Bailey Bumpus gets a hit in game one against Blue Ridge. (Barry Byers)

Megan advances — Megan Richards singles in game one and then advances to second base. (Barry Byers)

Alyssa gets on — Alyssa Richards hits into the Blue Ridge outfield for a single. (Barry Byers)

Viers gets second — Anna Viers gets to second base against the Lady Tigers in game two. (Barry Byers)

Cori takes two — Cori Jeffords makes it to second base in game two. (Barry Byers)

Between bases — Meredith Brummett looks for an opportunity to advance to third base in game two. (Barry Byers)

Jeffords strikes fear — Cori Jeffords strikes fear into pitchers everywhere. (Barry Byers)

Drew’s ready — Drew Windham stares down the mound in game two. (Barry Byers)

Bump sac bunts — After Blue Ridge won game one 4-1, Bailey Bumpus and the Lady Gladiators laid it all on the line to win game two 9-4, forcing a third and deciding game on Saturday. (Barry Byers)