By the time this softball season is over Trico Lady Pioneers coach Drew Franklin will have a full head of grey hair.
For the second consecutive game this post season, Trico had to rally in the bottom of the seventh inning to pick up the win.
Tuesday, trailing 5-2, the Lady Pioneers scored four runs to escape with a 6-5 victory over Shawnee to win the Steeleville 1A Regional championship, the third regional title in four years for the program.
“We play a hard seven (innings) all year long,” said Franklin. “We had one bad inning but the girls kept battling and found a way to win. I am so proud of them.”
Shawnee took control of the game early, as back-to-back doubles off starting pitcher Makayla Hartmann put Trico down 2-0 in the third.
Franklin replaced Hartmann with freshman pitcher Jordan Lodge to try and get out of the third inning jam. However, two wild pitches, a walk and an error later, the Lady Reds were up 5-0.
Lodge settled down after that inning allowing no runs and just one hit the rest of the way. She also got the offense going for the Lady Pioneers with a solo home run in the fourth.
“Overall I was pleased with my performance,” said Lodge. “I have been in an offensive slump and I was able to pull myself out of that today. I had a tough third inning but I calmed down and was able to hit my spots with my pitches the rest of the way.”
Trico added another run in the fourth as senior Cassie Ortiz was hit by a pitch and then later scored on a throwing error. After four innings, Trico trailed 5-2.
The Lady Pioneers managed just two hits over the next two innings but that all changed in the bottom of the seventh.
Freshman Chloe Thies started the inning off with a single before being replaced by pinch runner Rayanna Moore. A one-out single by junior Courtney Brandon followed up with a walk by senior Katie Taylor loaded the bases. Junior Kaylee Boland drove home one run with a single before Lodge popped up for the second out.
Facing elimination, Ortiz came through in the clutch with a single that scored two runs and tied the game at 5-5.
“It was a huge relief,” said Ortiz. “I think I have only had one game-winning hit in my career, I usually choke in those situations. Once I saw the ball get past the infield, I knew the game was tied.”
The game wouldn’t be tied for long, as freshman Kourtney Bunselmeyer lined the ball past the infield defense to score the winning run from third.
“When I walked up to the plate, coach just told me to relax,” said Bunselmeyer. “I just wanted to hit the ball hard. Most of my hits today weren’t that good, I’m so glad I could redeem myself late in the game.”
Trico, a team that starts just three seniors compared to four freshman, got contributions from everyone in the lineup regardless of age.
“I told this team it doesn’t matter what class they are, they are all softball players and they showed that today,” said Franklin.
With the win, the Lady Pioneers advanced to the Goreville Sectional and were scheduled to face the host Lady Bearcats, one of the top ranked teams in the state, Wednesday.