Italy’s Paige Westbrook(10) waits for the umpire’s ruling who calls the sliding Lady Gladiator safe at third during a matchup with the Terrell Lady Tigers during this past weekend’s softball tournament held in Scurry Rosser. 1A Italy shutout 4A Terrell 9-0 and won three of their five games over a two day stretch. (Barry Byers)
Lady Gladiator Softball head coach Wayne Rowe confers with sophomore Kelsey Nelson as teammate Paige Westbrook(10) stands at third base. Nelson went on to get a hit scoring Westbrook. (Barry Byers)
Lady Gladiator Madison Washington(2) pops one up and then heads for first-base. (Barry Byers)
Freshman Ashlyn Jacinto aggressively looks for a chance to score from third-base as Italy routes Terrell. (Barry Byers)
Sophomore pitcher Jaclynn Lewis made it look easy throughout the tournament striking out one batter after another. Despite being ill on Saturday, Lewis toughed it out to lead Italy to a 9-0 win over Terrell and then gave the Lady Gladiators a chance during a 3-2 loss in the finale against 2A Scurry. (Barry Byers)
Lady Gladiator third baseman Katie Byers(13) gets ready for the Lady Tigers. (Barry Byers)
Pitcher Jaclynn Lewis(15) signals out as her catcher, Alyssa Richards, throws out a Terrell base runner at second-base with shortstop Paige Westbrook making the tag and second baseman Morgan Cockerham backing up the play. (Barry Byers)
With Jaclynn Lewis watching from the circle, Madison Washington(2) catches a pop fly for an out in the right field gap as senior right fielder Brooke Miller(3) backs her up. (Barry Byers)
It’s Gone! Senior power-hitter Alyssa Richards(9) has only just returned to the batter’s box after battling under the basket for the Lady Gladiators who reached the basketball playoffs this season. In just her sixth game back, Richards goes yard sending her first homerun of 2013 over the left field fence against Terrell. (Barry Byers)
Alyssa “Bone Crusher” Richards(9) cruises around the bases after sending a pitch into the parking lot to give Italy an 8-0 lead over Terrell. (Barry Byers)
Kelsey Nelson hits a 2-run RBI double to help extend Italy’s advantage over Terrell. (Barry Byers)
Benefiting a Kelsey Nelson hit, Morgan Cockerham and Katie Byers cross home plate for Italy. (Barry Byers)
Second baseman Morgan Cockerham is ready to pounce on the ball with the Tigers up to bat. (Barry Byers)
Lady Gladiator Asisstant Coach/dad Michael Chambers talks with player/daughter Britney Chambers who is gaining valuable experience as a freshman. (Barry Byers)
Lady Gladiator first baseman Breyanna Beets(11) hauls in a throw from shortstop Paige Westbrook. (Barry Byers)
Veteran catcher Alyssa Richards covers a bunt and then guns down the runner before the Tigers can reach first base. (Barry Byers)
Shortstop Paige Westbrook(10) admires the hustle of teammate Madison Washington(2) who sprints toward the wall and makes the over-the-shoulder catch for Italy. (Barry Byers)
Even young fans are captivated by the skills of Alyssa Richards as she entertains and inspires from behind the plate. (Barry Byers)
Italy’s Madison Washington(2) ricochetes the ball off Scurry’s pitcher to reach first-base. (Barry Byers)
From a cloud of dust and fiery vale emerges Lady Gladiator third baseman Katie Byers(13) who quickly covers a Scurry bunt. (Barry Byers)
Lady Gladiator Morgan Cockerham makes up her mind to hit and then knocks one into right field. (Barry Byers)
Lady Gladiator Morgan Cockerham(8) sends one into right field for a single. (Barry Byers)
Italy’s Hannah Washington attempts a bunt against Scurry’s Lady Wildcats. (Barry Byers)
Madison Washington(2) and the Lady Gladiators are feeling pretty good about things after entering the Scurry tournament 0-3 and the returning to Italy 3-5. (Barry Byers)