One inning made the difference in the Mitchell, Providence sectional softball game
The Mitchell softball team put together about as good of a start as it could’ve hoped for on Tuesday.
The Bluejackets, hosting Providence in sectional semifinal play, pounced on the Pioneers. Leadoff hitter Caitlyn Mullis got on with a single and Malaya Tanglao drove in a run in the next at-bat with a flare to right field. Two batters later, Avery Southern hit a line drive to short center field to plate another run.
As Mitchell hit the field for the bottom of the inning, it led 2-0. That score didn’t hold for long.
Four singles in a row opened Providence’s first turn at the plate, scoring a pair of runs to tie the game. Then a double made it 3-2.
By the time the Bluejackets got back in the dugout, they trailed 4-2.
They would never recover from the deficit though they tried, ultimately losing 5-3.
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Malaya Tanglao makes her return
Coming into the game, the Bluejackets got a lift with the return of one of their key players. After missing roughly the last month with an injury, junior shortstop Malaya Tanglao suited up for Mitchell as it entered the postseason.
She made her presence felt quickly with an RBI in the first inning and helped shore things up defensively for the Bluejackets. Even though they weren’t able to stay alive in the tournament, it was good for them to see Tanglao back out there.
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"She definitely helps us out in the field and with the stick," Mitchell coach Stevie Canada said. "We just couldn't get enough runners on base today to do anything."
Avery Southern steps up
The Pioneers could’ve run away with the game, but following their first-inning outburst they were more or less stifled by Mitchell ace Avery Southern. She took over pitching dutto start the second inning and was rock solid through the rest of the evening, allowing just one run on three hits and striking out four.
She was particularly potent at the beginning of her relief outing, retiring the first eight batters she faced in a row and nine of the first 10.
"She mowed them down. She absolutely mowed them down," Canada said. "She kind of told me she wanted the ball after the first inning and I saw it in her eyes. She wanted the ball so bad, I wanted to give it to her."
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Looking ahead
Ultimately, the result of Tuesday’s game proved a recurring theme in high-school softball — one bad inning can and will lose you a game. Remove the bottom of the first from the book and Mitchell (12-12, 4-2 PLAC) outscored the Pioneers 2-1. That, however, isn't the way the game works.
With the loss, the Bluejackets end their season short of achieving their goals. They just missed out on repeating as conference champions, and now have missed out on repeating as sectional champions.
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With their core returning in 2023, they'll try to use those shortcomings as fuel.
"That's what we're hoping happens," Canada said. "I'm hoping that they all come back hungry and wanting to go."
Contact Times-Mail sports reporter Auston Matricardi via e-mail at amatricardi@tmnews.com or on Twitter at @amatricardiTM.