Errors lead to end of Lady Tigers' season

MCDERMOTT — Four days after their best late-inning rally of the year ended with a sectional title for the McClain Lady Tigers, they were unable to find that magic once more. With errors being their Achilles heel on Wednesday, the Lady Tigers had their season ended with a 3-1 loss to the Gallia Academy Lady Blue Devils in their Division II SE District semifinal at Northwest High School.

McClain scored first in the bottom of the first with Jenna Perie (1-for-3) singling with two outs. With Sarah Thompson in as a courtesy runner for Perie, she moved to second on a line drive single into left field off a change-up from Morgan Dettwiller (1-for-3) and scored on a base hit, lined back to the pitcher, bouncing off her glove into left field by Kate Crabtree for the 1-0 lead.

Crabtree led MHS at the plate going 2-for-3 with one RBI.

"I was pleased with how we came out and scored first," MHS head coach Jarrod Haines said. "After the first inning, we had runners on base, but we just struggled to move them around … we hit too many balls right at the outfielders.

"Defensively, they took advantage of our mistakes … don't get me wrong, we made some phenomenal plays, plays that you have to make to win a game like this, but they took advantage of our miscues."

Gallia Academy took the lead with two runs in the top of the third with Ward and Lanham scoring two runs with Ward singling to start the inning and Lanham taking first on an infield error. The first run of the game was a close call at the plate, tying the game.

They increased their lead to 3-1 with Barnes (2-for-3, one walk) scoring on a ground out by Lanham in the top of the fourth.

As for the Lady Tigers, they were retired in order in the second through fourth innings going nine up, nine down while striking out three times in that span.

In the fifth, the Lady Tigers threatened with Brittany Mullikin drawing a walk to lead off the MHS fifth inning, followed by a sacrifice bunt by Sasha Lawwell for the first out of the inning. After the second out was recorded on a line out, Cierra Landrum took first base on a hit-by-pitch, but the inning was ended with two runners left stranded (including Mullikin at third base) on a fly out to centerfield.

MHS stranded two runners in the sixth with Dettwiller taking the bases on a five-pitch walk and Crabtree gaining her second base hit, all with one out. The next two batters struck out and flew out to centerfield to end the inning.

Landrum (1-for-3, one walk) kept the seventh inning going with a two-out single (on an 0-2 count), but a ground out to short ended the game and wrapped up the season of the Lady Tigers.

The loss in the circle went to Landrum (20-4), as she pitched all seven innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on nine hits and three walks. The ace pitcher finished with two strikeouts.

Ward was the winning pitcher for Gallia Academy. She allowed one run (one earned) on five hits and two walks. She struck out four.

"Cierra settled in and finished strong," Haines said. "She has had a heck of a year … she has been a bulldog for us in the circle."

Haines spoke about his senior class.

"These seniors have been the foundation that we have built this program on," Haines said. "I started when they were freshmen, and you won't find a better group to be around. They define 'Tiger Toughness,' they were the start of our junior high program … their hard work paid off. We won't let one game define our season, they have many accomplishments to be proud of."

MHS finishes the season at 21-4 with an undefeated South Central Ohio League season at 12-0 and a 2-1 sectional title win over the Washington Lady Blue Lions. MHS has won the past two SCOL championships.

BOX SCORE
GA 021 000 0 — 3 9 0
MHS 100 000 0 — 1 5 4