Itasca was ready to play but the Lady Gladiators find a way; Italy wins 6-5

Image: Lady Gladiator Hannah Washington attempts to score Ashlyn Jacinto from third base in what proved to be a classic matchup between Italy and Itasca on Tuesday.

Lady Gladiator Hannah Washington attempts to score Ashlyn Jacinto from third base in what proved to be a classic matchup between Italy and Itasca on Tuesday. (Barry Byers)

Image: Alyssa Richards and her teammates never wavered in their confidence while finding a way to defeat a fired up Itasca squad.

Alyssa Richards and her teammates never wavered in their confidence while finding a way to defeat a fired up Itasca squad. (Barry Byers)

Image: Lady Gladiators Paige Westbrook, Jaclynn Lewis, Madison Washington, Bailey Eubank and Katie Byers, along with their teammates, overcame the challenge from Itasca by sticking together as a team.

Lady Gladiators Paige Westbrook, Jaclynn Lewis, Madison Washington, Bailey Eubank and Katie Byers, along with their teammates, overcame the challenge from Itasca by sticking together as a team. (Barry Byers)

Image: Pitcher Jaclynn Lewis(15) looks on and centerfielder Kelsey Nelson provides backup as catcher Alyssa Richards(9) throws down to shortstop Madison Washington(2) who manages to tag out an approaching Itasca runner caught trying to steal second base.

Pitcher Jaclynn Lewis(15) looks on and centerfielder Kelsey Nelson provides backup as catcher Alyssa Richards(9) throws down to shortstop Madison Washington(2) who manages to tag out an approaching Itasca runner caught trying to steal second base. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Madison Washington(2) is agressive at the plate.

Italy’s Madison Washington(2) is agressive at the plate. (Barry Byers)

Image: With Itasca building a sizable lead midway thru, Lady Gladiator head coach Wayne Rowe and his troops dust off the damage and prepare for a comeback.

With Itasca building a sizable lead midway thru, Lady Gladiator head coach Wayne Rowe and his troops dust off the damage and prepare for a comeback. (Barry Byers)

Image: Tara Wallis(5) glares toward the mound as Italy fights to change the course of the game.

Tara Wallis(5) glares toward the mound as Italy fights to change the course of the game. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Hannah Washington(6) gets the play call before stepping into the batter’s box and then stepping up.

Italy’s Hannah Washington(6) gets the play call before stepping into the batter’s box and then stepping up. (Barry Byers)

Image: Bailey Eubank(1) stands tall at the plate for Italy.

Bailey Eubank(1) stands tall at the plate for Italy. (Barry Byers)

Image: Covering a bunt, pitcher Jaclynn Lewis(15) throws to second baseman Bailey Eubank(1) who covers first base to catch the out.

Covering a bunt, pitcher Jaclynn Lewis(15) throws to second baseman Bailey Eubank(1) who covers first base to catch the out. (Barry Byers)

Image: Madison Washington(2) tries to rip one past the pitcher’s mound but Itasca makes the play.

Madison Washington(2) tries to rip one past the pitcher’s mound but Itasca makes the play. (Barry Byers)

Image: Kelsy Nelson(14) continues to be a play maker for the Lady Gladiators.

Kelsy Nelson(14) continues to be a play maker for the Lady Gladiators. (Barry Byers)

Image: After a low pitch escapes the catcher, Jaclynn Lewis(15) slides home to pull Italy within one point of Itasca, 5-4, but the play is not over…

After a low pitch escapes the catcher, Jaclynn Lewis(15) slides home to pull Italy within one point of Itasca, 5-4, but the play is not over… (Barry Byers)

Image: …as the play continues, K’Breona Davis tries to sneak across home plate to tie the game but Itasca recovers in time to get the third out and preserve their dwindling lead, 5-4.

…as the play continues, K’Breona Davis tries to sneak across home plate to tie the game but Itasca recovers in time to get the third out and preserve their dwindling lead, 5-4. (Barry Byers)

Image: Jaclynn Lewis(15) returns to the mound for Italy with the tension mounting in the late innings.

Jaclynn Lewis(15) returns to the mound for Italy with the tension mounting in the late innings. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s third baseman Paige Westbrook(10) is ready for anything with the game on the line.

Italy’s third baseman Paige Westbrook(10) is ready for anything with the game on the line. (Barry Byers)

Image: Head coach Wayne Rowe considers trying something different and shares his thoughts with pitcher Jaclynn Lewis and catcher Alyssa Richards. Wanting to stay with the original game plan, Richards’ ended the brief conference by stating, “We got this,” according to Coach Rowe after Italy’s dramatic comeback win.

Head coach Wayne Rowe considers trying something different and shares his thoughts with pitcher Jaclynn Lewis and catcher Alyssa Richards. Wanting to stay with the original game plan, Richards’ ended the brief conference by stating, “We got this,” according to Coach Rowe after Italy’s dramatic comeback win. (Barry Byers)

Image: Jaclynn Lewis(15) gambles by taking on one of Itasca’s top hitters with the game still up for grabs.

Jaclynn Lewis(15) gambles by taking on one of Itasca’s top hitters with the game still up for grabs. (Barry Byers)

Image: First baseman Katie Byers(13) stretches to make the catch and get a much needed out for Italy with right fielder Britney Chambers hurrying to backup Byers.

First baseman Katie Byers(13) stretches to make the catch and get a much needed out for Italy with right fielder Britney Chambers hurrying to backup Byers. (Barry Byers)

Image: Uh-oh! Don’t look now but Alyssa Richards(9) settles in at the plate with her Lady Gladiators trailing 5-4 in the bottom of the seventh-inning.

Uh-oh! Don’t look now but Alyssa Richards(9) settles in at the plate with her Lady Gladiators trailing 5-4 in the bottom of the seventh-inning. (Barry Byers)

Image: With Italy taking what could be their last at bat and two strikes against her, Alyssa Richards(9) hits a monster shot over the left field fence to tie the game 5-5 with no outs. The out-of-the-park homerun marks the third homer for Richards this season.

With Italy taking what could be their last at bat and two strikes against her, Alyssa Richards(9) hits a monster shot over the left field fence to tie the game 5-5 with no outs. The out-of-the-park homerun marks the third homer for Richards this season. (Barry Byers)

Image: Alyssa Richards(9) rounds second base during her homerun trot to the dismay of Itasca’s infielders.

Alyssa Richards(9) rounds second base during her homerun trot to the dismay of Itasca’s infielders. (Barry Byers)

Image: And with a leaping statement, Alyssa Richards(9) stomps home plate after her game-tying homerun blast where she is cheerfully greeted by her teammates.

And with a leaping statement, Alyssa Richards(9) stomps home plate after her game-tying homerun blast where she is cheerfully greeted by her teammates. (Barry Byers)

Image: In the bottom of the seventh with the game tied 5-5 with two outs and two strikes, as well as an undefeated district title on the line, Tara Wallis(5) comes thru for the Lady Gladiators with a game defining blooper to score teammate Jaclynn Lewis(15) from third base to win the game for Italy 6-5.

In the bottom of the seventh with the game tied 5-5 with two outs and two strikes, as well as an undefeated district title on the line, Tara Wallis(5) comes thru for the Lady Gladiators with a game defining blooper to score teammate Jaclynn Lewis(15) from third base to win the game for Italy 6-5. (Barry Byers)

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