CHILLICOTHE — It’s a game of inches.
With one out in the bottom of the seventh and the game tied at 6-all, Ashlee Spence managed to get a piece of the ball on a 2-2 pitch.
Spence then hit a line drive over the right field fence on the next pitch giving the South Webster Lady Jeeps a 7-6 win over the Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers in the Division 3 district finals.
“Our girls played hard and with Fighting Tiger heart. They never gave in at any point in the game,” said Ironton coach Jim Dyer.
“The game could have gone many different ways but it was as close of a game as we’ve ever been in.”
Ironton had tied the game in the top of the seventh.
Bella Sorbilli walked and Emily Weber singled to start the inning. Both runners advanced when Katie Williams grounded out. Graycie Brammer then lined a single to center field scoring Sorbilli.
Khamil Martin then hit a line shot that was caught in right field for an out but Weber stole home during the next at-bat to tie the game.
South Webster (17-3) took a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
Skylar Zimmerman and Bella Claxon had one-out doubles and Spence got a two-out RBI double.
Ironton rallied to take a 3-2 lead in the fourth when Katelyn Moore belted a home run after walks to Khamil Martin and Aubrey Ferguson.
But the Lady Jeeps came back with 4 runs in the fifth to lead 6-3.
Lauren Kaltenbach singled, Addi Claxon walked, Caleigh Benner singled for a runny Ava Messer belted a 3-run homer.
The Lady Fighting Tigers got a run in the sixth when Martin walked, Moore singled and Layla Townsend doubled.
That set the stage for the decisive seventh inning.
“I hate this more than anything for this group of seniors. They’ve had great careers and brought a lot of success to the program,” said Dyer.
“But in the same sentence, these freshmen and underclassmen start a new season tomorrow and try to continue what the seniors have accomplished.”
Braylin Wallace took the loss as she gave up 7 earned runs and 10 hits with 10 strikeouts and 2 walks
Moore was 2-3 with a home run and 3 RBI, Townsend 1-3 with a double and RBI, Weber 1-3 and Brammer 1-4 with an RBI.
Ironton 000 301 2 = 6 5 1
So. Webster 200 040 1 = 7 10 1
Jaiden White and Ava Messer. Brayliln Wallace and Graycie Brammer. W-White (IIP-7.0, H-5, R-6, ER-6, K-4, BB-5). L-Wallace (IP-6.1, H-10, R-7, ER-7, K-10, BB-2, WP-1). Hitting-Ironton: Graycie Brammer 1-4 RBI, Katelyn Moore 2-3 3-RBI HR, Layla Townsend 1-3 RBI 2B, Emily Weber 1-3; South Webster: Lauren Kalterbach 2-4, Skylar Zimmerman 1-4 2B, Bella Claxon 1-4 RBI 2B, Ashlee Spence 3-3 2-RBI 2B HR, Caleigh Benner 1-1 RBI, Ava Messer 1-2 HR 3-RBI, Bre Potters 1-2 2B.
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