Lady Eagles take victory vs. Groveton, 5-2

WHITEHOUSE — The No. 2 Como-Pickton Lady Eagles continued their winning ways with a 5-2 win in their Regional Semifinal playoff game against the No. 8 Groveton Lady Indians at Whitehouse High School. In a closely contested game, the Lady Eagles had a slight edge all game and never let their guard down, coming away with the win.

The Lady Eagles were first to step up to the plate. The game would start with Bella Romero striking out and Gracie Thompson hitting a pop fly ball for an out. Though a runner was gained when Mattison Buster was intentionally walked, then substituted for Sanay Diaz, their turn ended when Addi Monk grounded out.

The Lady Indians came to the plate next, where they faced Buster in the circle. Their turn started with a strikeout and a fly out. After two runners were gained on an error and a walk, another strikeout would bring the first inning to a close.

The second inning began with Saylor Smith being walked. After Sarah Corley struck out, Paisley Watkins would hit a single.

On the next at-bat, Judah Van Rijn reached base on an error and Smith scored, giving the Lady Eagles a 1-0 lead. Van Rijn was then substituted by Lauren Lewellen at first base.

Maggie Brown would then reach base on an error, and both Watkins and Lewellen would score as well, increasing the Lady Eagles’ lead to 3-0.

After Romero hit a fly out, the bases loaded up when Thompson walked and Buster was intentionally walked. Unfortunately, Monk would hit a pop fly ball for an out on the next at-bat, ending their turn.

The bottom of the second inning started with a strikeout. After the Lady Indians gained a runner on an error, two more strikeouts would bring the second inning to a close.

The Lady Eagles went down in order to begin the third inning after Smith and Corley hit fly balls for outs and Watkins grounded out.

The bottom of the third inning began with a pop out. Following a double, an error would bring home a run, as the Lady Indians trimmed the score to 3-1. After an intentional walk and a single loaded up the bases, a strikeout and ground out would close out the third inning.

The fourth inning started with Van Rijn being walked. This was followed by Brown grounding into a fielder’s choice, where Van Rijn was tagged out at second base.

After Romero grounded out, Thompson would bring Brown home with an RBI single, raising the Lady Eagles’ lead to 4-1. This was followed by Buster swatting an RBI double, bringing Thompson home and bringing the score to 5-1. Buster was then substituted by Diaz, who facilitated the third out by stepping off the base, ending the fourth inning.

The bottom of the fourth inning started with a pair of ground outs. After an error, an RBI single helped the Lady Indians trim the score to 5-2. A ground out immediately after ended the fourth inning.

The fifth inning started with Monk hitting a pop fly ball for an out and Smith striking out. Though a runner was gained when Corley hit a single, Watkins grounded out on the next at-bat, ending their turn.

The bottom of the fifth inning began with a ground out. Following a pair of singles, a sacrifice bunt out followed. After the next batter was intentionally walked, loading up the bases, a ground out would end the fifth inning.

The sixth inning started with Van Rijn being hit by a pitch and Brown hitting a single. Two outs followed when Romero struck out and Thompson hit a fly ball for an out. Though the bases loaded when Buster was intentionally walked, and substituted by Diaz, their turn ended when Monk lined out.

The Lady Indians went down in order during the bottom of the sixth inning following a fly out, a line out, and a strikeout, ending the sixth inning.

The seventh inning started with Smith hitting a single. However, she would soon be caught stealing second base. Two more outs followed when Corley lined out and Watkins grounded out.

The Lady Indians were retired in order during the bottom of the seventh inning following three consecutive strikeouts from Buster, as the Lady Eagles capped off a 5-2 victory.

As a team, the Lady Eagles batted 6 for 27 (.222) from the plate. Brown, Buster, Corley, Smith, Thompson, and Watkins all recorded one hit each. Brown, Lewellen, Smith, Thompson, and Watkins would all score one run each.

Buster earned the victory in the circle. Across seven innings, she struck out 10 batters and only allowed five hits, three walks, and two runs (one earned).

With this win, the Lady Eagles improve to 35-2 on the season. They also advanced to the Regional Finals, where they will face the Shelbyville Lady Dragons in a best-of-three series at Marshall High School.

Game One will be Wednesday at 6 p.m. Game Two will be Thursday at 6 p.m. Game Three, if needed, will be Saturday at 4 p.m.