Desoto — With Italy the visiting team against Waxahachie Faith Family and up to bat first, the game was practically over before it started. With an outright, undisputed district title at stake, the Lady Gladiators wasted no time scoring and scoring often. Madison Washington was walked to start the game followed by Kelsey Nelson who singled to knock Washington in giving Italy a 1-0 lead. Alyssa Richards singled to put runners at first and second setting up a 2 run double by Jaclynn Lewis to add to the lead, 3-0.

Lewis reached third after a wild pitch with Paige Westbrook up to bat who was eventually walked after a wild pitch that also allowed Lewis to race home, 4-0 Italy with Westbrook on first. Katie Byers is next in the order and turns the third pitch into a 1 run double scoring Westbrook, 5-0.

Tara Wallis singles to short who is unable to field the grounder easily allowing Byers to advance to third base. Morgan Cockerham pulls thru with a 2 run single scoring both Byers and Wallis to put the Lady Gladiators up a touchdown over Faith Family, 7-0…still in the top of the first-inning.

Bailey Eubank singles that sets of a cycle of Faith Family errors that allows Cockerham to go from first to second, second to third and third to home, 8-0 Italy, while Eubank manages to safely reach third during the chaos. Italy starts again at the top of the batting order and leadoff hitter, Washington, does exactly that with a single sending Eubank home, 9-0. Nelson blasts Italy’s third double of the inning scoring Washington, 10-0. Alyssa Richards hits a fly ball to centerfield that is misjudged and drops in allowing Richards to take second and Nelson to cross home plate, 11-0 as Italy begins to run away the game.

Lewis returns to the plate and earns a walk while Richards relocates from second to third base. Westbrook gets on with a walk to load the base for Italy. Byers is unintentionally hit with a pitch and takes her base allowing Richards to advance home, 12-0 with the bases still loaded. Wallis is walked as well scoring Lewis, 13-0. Cockerham hangs in at the plate until she gets walked giving the green light to Westbrook to trot home, 14-0. With Faith Family’s backup pitcher struggling after entering the game when Waxahachie’s starting pitcher was struck in the arm on a hit ball, Eubank is walked to score Byers and give Italy a 15-0 lead.

Still with no outs in the top of the first inning, and as he has done previously this season when faced with the same situation, Italy head coach Wayne Rowe asks each of his base runners to step off their bases before the pitch which is an automatic out. Only one out is allowed at a time so Wallis on third stepped off her base, Cockerham at second stepped off her base and then Eubank stepped off her base consecutively to help Faith Family get out of the inning.

Of course, now Waxahachie would have to deal with the top pitcher of the district in Lewis who quickly does what she does so well, strikes out the first batter looking. The combination of Richards at catcher and Lewis on the mound has been the example for the district with their ability to dispose of batters. Faith Family’s second batter popped a rare treat in the air toward second where Eubank swallowed it up for out number two. Lewis struck out the next batter looking in three straight pitches for the third out.

In the top of the second-inning and with a 15-0 lead, Coach Rowe gets more of his freshman players involved but they too prove hard to stop for Faith Family. With Ashlyn Jacinto getting on base with a walk as does Britney Chambers. Lillie Perry is hit by a pitch to load the bases for Italy. Lewis goes to bat and is hit in the leg by a pitch as well to score Jacinto from third, 16-0. With the bases still loaded, Hannah Washington hits to get on base and score Chambers from third, 17-0.

Byers grounds out to short with Faith Family getting their first out of the game all on their own. However, the hit by Byers scores Perry, 18-0, and leaves Lady Gladiator runners at second and third. Wallis finds a close-enough pitch and hits good enough for a triple, scoring Lewis and Hannah Washington, 20-0. Cassidy Childers flied out to the catcher allowing Faith Family to secure their second out in the top-half of the inning. K’Breona Davis earns a walk for Italy to put Lady Gladiator runners on first and third with Wallis biting at the bit to score. Coach Rowe decides that’s enough and instructs Wallis to step of the bag before the next pitch for the third out which she does with class.

Lewis retakes the hill for Italy and makes quick work of Waxahachie’s next three batters. The first batter hits a grounder to first base when Perry, who was covering the bag, gathered the roller and then flipped the ball back to Davis who alertly covered from her post at second base to get the out. Watching the freshmen work together is exciting to Italy’s fans as Lewis took down the next Faith Family batter looking. The third batter hits a grounder to Hannah Washington, now playing third base for Westbrook, who delivers a throw on target to Perry at first for the third out, again a pair of freshmen teaming up for an Italy out.

Italy returns to the dugout to grab their bats with the end of the game and the playoffs in sight, and with what appears to be an undefeated, undisputed district championship on the horizon. Ahead 20-0, Faith Family would certainly have to pull off a miracle to alter the course of destiny.

Jacinto starts the top of the third off with walk and uses an at bat by Chambers to work her way to third. Perry looks confident at the plate, leans back and plasters a line drive into the outfield for a triple. Jacinto scores and Italy leads 21-0. Lewis is again hit by a pitch and takers her base. Hannah Washington singles to move Lewis to second and score Perry, 22-0. Byers grounds out to first but moves runners at second and third. Wallis gets on when her grounder to third causes problems for Faith Family allowing Lewis to cross home plate, 23-0, Hannah Washington stands on third.

Wallis easily steals second and Childers fights her way to first base on a walk to again load the bases for Italy. Davis is walked as well to score Hannah Washington from third, 24-0. Rowe has Wallis and Childers step off their bases for the two outs needed to get Faith Family out of the inning.

Coach Rowe makes a rare pitching change and flip-flops Hannah Washington too the mound with Lewis who goes to third base. Italy’s freshmen magic continued to roll with Hannah Washington striking out the first Faith Family batter looking with her sister Madison Washington in place of Richards at catcher. With Richards pulling a ball bucket into the dugout door to be within earshot of her replacement catcher, the freshman pitcher kept firing away.

The next batter walked to give Waxahachie their first base-runner of the game. The following batter sent a fly ball into right field where Chambers, who is also a freshman, makes the catch beyond the foul line, 2 outs! Faith Family had more to cheer about after a walk and a grounder puts Waxahachie in the run column, 24-1. Enough pitches went off the mark to help Waxahachie score another run and pull within 22-points of Italy, 24-2. With the bases loaded, another walk made the score 24-3. Italy’s youthful defense still had two outs but Faith Family continued to have the bases loaded.

Certainly not in panic mode but definitely needing a play, with two balls and one strike against her, Faith Family’s batter zips a liner thru the air and in the direction of Chambers in right field. Chambers stays calm, gets her mitt under the ball and makes the catch to help out her pitcher by securing the third out!!! — No miraculous comeback for Faith Family.

Both teams begin the top of the fourth-inning but it quickly ends with the umpire calling the game and making it official…The Italy Lady Gladiators are the 2013 undefeated, undisputed District Champions posting a perfect district record of 12-0!!!!!!

Congratulations to Italy’s entire team on their tremendous accomplishment!

Italy’s Lady Gladiators are the 2013 District Champions!!!!!

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