Lady Gladiators are Regional Semi-finalists; Blue Ridge advances

Image: Lady Gladiators get ready to take on Blue Ridge in game 3 — Cori Jeffords, Alyssa Richards, Megan Richards and Anna Viers are ready to play game three against Blue Ridge after the playing of the national anthem.

Lady Gladiators get ready to take on Blue Ridge in game 3 — Cori Jeffords, Alyssa Richards, Megan Richards and Anna Viers are ready to play game three against Blue Ridge after the playing of the national anthem. (Barry Byers)

Image: Here we go — Seniors Drew Windham and Cori Jeffords slap hands during the pre-game introductions.

Here we go — Seniors Drew Windham and Cori Jeffords slap hands during the pre-game introductions. (Barry Byers)

Image: Ready to play — The Lady Gladiators get ready to play game three against Blue Ridge.

Ready to play — The Lady Gladiators get ready to play game three against Blue Ridge. (Barry Byers)

Image: Drew drives the ball — Drew Windham hits a 2-run double to left field in the top of the 1st inning against Blue Ridge.

Drew drives the ball — Drew Windham hits a 2-run double to left field in the top of the 1st inning against Blue Ridge. (Barry Byers)

Image: Anna scores first — Freshman Anna Viers puts the first score on the board followed by Alyssa Richards to give Italy a 2-0 lead in the 1st inning.

Anna scores first — Freshman Anna Viers puts the first score on the board followed by Alyssa Richards to give Italy a 2-0 lead in the 1st inning. (Barry Byers)

Image: Great season — Italy’s senior pitcher Courtney Westbrook lead the Lady Gladiators to the 4th round of the playoffs for the third time in school history.

Great season — Italy’s senior pitcher Courtney Westbrook lead the Lady Gladiators to the 4th round of the playoffs for the third time in school history. (Barry Byers)

Image: Anna and Merbear — Shortstop Anna “Hollywood” Viers and left fielder Meredith “Merbear” Brummett react to a popup hit by the Blue Ridge Lady Tigers.

Anna and Merbear — Shortstop Anna “Hollywood” Viers and left fielder Meredith “Merbear” Brummett react to a popup hit by the Blue Ridge Lady Tigers. (Barry Byers)

Image: Cori to Drew — Second baseman Cori Jeffords throws to Drew Windham at first base for the out.

Cori to Drew — Second baseman Cori Jeffords throws to Drew Windham at first base for the out. (Barry Byers)

Image: Courtney crouches — Courtney Westbrook threatens to bunt against Blue Ridge’s defense.

Courtney crouches — Courtney Westbrook threatens to bunt against Blue Ridge’s defense. (Barry Byers)

Image: Anna powers one — Anna Viers powers a liner past the Lady Tigers’ infield.

Anna powers one — Anna Viers powers a liner past the Lady Tigers’ infield. (Barry Byers)

Image: Making the catch — Senior first baseman Drew Windham makes the catch for another out against Blue Ridge.

Making the catch — Senior first baseman Drew Windham makes the catch for another out against Blue Ridge. (Barry Byers)

Image: Cori stalks — Senior second baseman Cori Jeffords covered first for the out and then stalks a Lady Tiger that’s rounding third base.

Cori stalks — Senior second baseman Cori Jeffords covered first for the out and then stalks a Lady Tiger that’s rounding third base. (Barry Byers)

Image: Meg to Alyssa — Sophomore pitcher Megan Richards tries get one past Blue Ridge and into the waiting mitt of her sister, catcher Alyssa Richards.

Meg to Alyssa — Sophomore pitcher Megan Richards tries get one past Blue Ridge and into the waiting mitt of her sister, catcher Alyssa Richards. (Barry Byers)

Image: Tough day — Top: Credit Blue Ridge’s hitters as they slip one past Italy’s talented shortstop Anna Viers. Middle: Megan Richards waves Italy’s entire defense to the mound in an effort to focus her team. Bottom: Italy head softball coach Jennifer Reeves tries to console her Ladies after the disappointing loss.

Tough day — Top: Credit Blue Ridge’s hitters as they slip one past Italy’s talented shortstop Anna Viers. Middle: Megan Richards waves Italy’s entire defense to the mound in an effort to focus her team. Bottom: Italy head softball coach Jennifer Reeves tries to console her Ladies after the disappointing loss. (Barry Byers)

Image: Drew’s reliable — Senior Cori Jeffords and Drew Windham combine for one last out. Windham had an amazing season at first base and leaves behind a pair of cleats that will be hard to fill.

Drew’s reliable — Senior Cori Jeffords and Drew Windham combine for one last out. Windham had an amazing season at first base and leaves behind a pair of cleats that will be hard to fill. (Barry Byers)

Image: What a player — Senior second baseman Cori Jeffords added speed, strength and a winning attitude to the Lady Gladiator lineup.

What a player — Senior second baseman Cori Jeffords added speed, strength and a winning attitude to the Lady Gladiator lineup. (Barry Byers)

Image: How it’s done! — Courtney Westbrook fields a grounder at third base and then steps on the bag for a force out against Blue Ridge in game three.

How it’s done! — Courtney Westbrook fields a grounder at third base and then steps on the bag for a force out against Blue Ridge in game three. (Barry Byers)

Image: Meredith Brummett — Senior Meredith Brummett was a solid performer during Italy’s playoff run. Despite, Blue Ridge winning the series, Brummett had three great games against the Lady Tigers and was clutch with a bat in her hand.

Meredith Brummett — Senior Meredith Brummett was a solid performer during Italy’s playoff run. Despite, Blue Ridge winning the series, Brummett had three great games against the Lady Tigers and was clutch with a bat in her hand. (Barry Byers)

Image: One last time — The Lady Gladiators stand as one, one last time, finishing the 2010 season as regional semi-finalists. Awesome!

One last time — The Lady Gladiators stand as one, one last time, finishing the 2010 season as regional semi-finalists. Awesome! (Barry Byers)

Image: Love you, Drew! — Rita Garza gives senior Drew Windham a long hug after the game.

Love you, Drew! — Rita Garza gives senior Drew Windham a long hug after the game. (Barry Byers)

Image: Proud grandad — Senior Courtney Westbrook is comforted by her grandfather after the heartbreaking loss to Blue Ridge.

Proud grandad — Senior Courtney Westbrook is comforted by her grandfather after the heartbreaking loss to Blue Ridge. (Barry Byers)

Image: Loving embrace — Senior Courtney Westbrook is embraced by her father Kelly Westbrook after the game.

Loving embrace — Senior Courtney Westbrook is embraced by her father Kelly Westbrook after the game. (Barry Byers)

Image: ARMazing! — Megan Richards will lead the Lady Gladiators as a junior next season as far as her amazing right arm can carry them.

ARMazing! — Megan Richards will lead the Lady Gladiators as a junior next season as far as her amazing right arm can carry them. (Barry Byers)

Image: We’ll be back… — Freshmen Katie Byers, Anna Viers and Alyssa Richards leave Forney hand-in-hand with plans of returning to the playoffs again next season.

We’ll be back… — Freshmen Katie Byers, Anna Viers and Alyssa Richards leave Forney hand-in-hand with plans of returning to the playoffs again next season. (Barry Byers)

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