Lady Wildcat softball had to overcome a fast start by Evadale in Dallardsville, but secured a 10-6 win and spot in the postseason Monday.
A walk, single and two doubles provided three runs in the top of the first for Evadale, putting the Lady Cats in a hole to start the game.
They would respond in the bottom of the second, as Skylar Wick walked, and Heaven Four Bear drove her in with a double. Tairia Robinson grounded into a fielder's choice, but all were safe with a late throw to the first. Kenley McQueen singled to load the bags and Ryleigh Burks singled to produce a run. Jaycie Blankenbaker walked for the tie score, and an error on a throw down to third allowed Big Sandy to take the lead at 4-3 after two frames.
“We have just been playing good these last two and a half weeks,” Big Sandy coach Mark Young said. “We have had a couple of surprise people that kind of just took a step forward. Tairia Robinson in right field has probably hit .700 in the last five games. She was struggling, to where she wasn't even playing early in the year. I gave her a chance and she went two-for-three and went two-for-three the next game, and two-for-three the next game, so I had to play her. Our pitcher (Blankenbaker) hasn't walked many and if you can keep those down to just a couple, she has been a big plus. Our catcher (Wick) has five home runs this year in district and is third in state. It is just fun to see those kids do that.”
In the third, Evadale evened the score when a runner reached on error then stole second, third and home.
In the bottom half, Wick singled and Four Bear drove her in for her second RBI, and the Lady Cats led, 5-4.
They extended that lead the next inning when Burks walked, Shelly Weatherford doubled and Wick slapped a two-run double.
A couple of RBI-singles brought Evadale to within one at 7-6, but that would be as close as they would get the rest of the way.
In the bottom of the sixth, Blankenbaker and Weatherford singled, and Wick drove in two runs with a base hit of her own. Four Bear smashed a two-run double off the center field wall to give Big Sandy a four-run advantage.
“This puts us in,” Young said of the playoffs. “The last game is Thursday and it won't matter one way or the other, we still finish fourth in the district. It was a big one for us because Danbury coming into our district really put somebody back home. They are a big 2A and all of us are little, so somebody had to earn it.
“I am just happy for our team and it looks like, right now, we will be playing Burton. My assistant went and scouted them, and we have our work cut out for us. They are just good all the way around. They won that district over there. I told these girls this whole year if you make routine plays and put the bat on the ball and throw strikes, you are in any game. That is what we are going to be pushing for.”
