Lady Mustangs lose heartbreaker in district semifinals

By COSMO COSSEY

Poinsett County

BIC and Riverside played a game that was state final worthy as they battled it out with the Lady Rebels scoring in the bottom of the seventh to take a 1-0 win, on Klaire Womack's no-hit performance, advancing to the finals.

Lady Rebel Klaire Womack readies to throw a pitch dur-ing tournament action this past Friday. (Photo by Cosmo Cossey)

BIC will play next in the 2A North Regional Tournament to be played in Lake City.

Jaylyn Cagle struck out leading off for BIC as Hallee Wells drew a walk.

Sydney Bryeans popped out before Riley Parker was hit by a pitch only to see Claire Jackson strike out for the third out. Riverside went three up and three down in the bottom half as Annalee Qualls popped out leading off, Kaylee Cox followed with a ground out and Mackenzie Thomas popped out. Kendra Towell struck out leading off the top of the second inning for the Lady Mustangs before Chasney Griggry was hit by a pitch an Kinsley Hamilton coaxed a walk putting two runners on. Madi Gage looked at strike three as Cagle went down swinging to leave the runners stranded. Katie Ridge reached on an error lead-ing off for Riverside in the bottom of the inning as Gracie Doty followed with a pop out. Brooklyn Berry's fielder's choice forced Ridge out at second base before Klaire Womack was intentionally walked. Ryley Eakins popped out ending the inning with the game still scoreless after two innings.

BIC went down in order in the top of the third as Wells and Bryeans struck out swinging and Parker looked at strike three. Carly Jo Womack grounded out leading off for the Lady Rebels in the bottom of the inning as Qualls popped out. Cox singled only to be left on base when Thomas popped out. BIC again went down in order as Jackson and Towell both struck out and Griggry flew out. Ridge doubled for the Lady Rebels leading off the bottom half of the fourth inning as Bennett Durham came on to pinch run. Doty laid down a sacrifice bunt with Durham moving to second base before being left there when Berry flew out and Klaire Womack struck out as the game stayed scoreless.

Hamilton struck out leading off the top of the fifth for the Lady Mustangs before Gage reached on an error. Cagle and Wells both stuck out to leave Gage stranded. Riverside went three up an three down as Eakins grounded out, Carly Jo Womack popped out and Qualls grounded out. BIC went down in order again in the top of the sixth as Bryeans struck out, Parker flew out and Jackson lined out. Cox led off with a single in the bottom half for the Lady Rebels only to be forced out at second base on Thomas' fielder's choice grounder. Ridge followed by grounding into a double play to end the inning with still no score in the game.

Towell struck out lead-ing off the top of the seventh inning for BIC as Griggry walked with flex player Whittley Hawkins coming in to run. Doty grounded out leading off the bottom half for River-side as Berry drew a walk with Malorie Booth coming in to pinch run. Klaire Womack singled before Eakins laid down a bunt and wad thrown out at first. Booth rounded the bag at third and got a throw which got away from the fielder allowing Booth to score giving the Lady Rebel a 1-0 win and a trip to the district championship game.

Cox finished with two hits for Riverside as Ridge and Klaire Womack each had a hit. Booth added a run scored for the Lady Rebels. Klaire Womack walked three, struck out 17 and hit two batters in the circle.

Cagle gave up one run on four hits with two walks and one strikeout for BIC.