CALHOUN, Ga. – Like the trains that repeatedly rattle their way just across the street from where they play, the Calhoun Lady Yellow Jackets are persistent in what they do on the softball field.
On a night when Calhoun batters went a frustrating 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position, they still found a way to win. The Lady Jackets rallied twice to defeat Coahulla Creek in nine innings, 4-3, rallying twice to win a key league game that secured a second-place finish and first-round bye in the Region 6-AAA tournament.
Coahulla Creek (15-6, 10-5) will be the third seed in the tournament, which begins next week at the Calhoun Recreation Center fields.
“Whew, that was tough,” exhaled Calhoun coach Diane Smith. “We’ve got to find a way to get runners over and get them in when we have the opportunity. But the girls never gave up, because they knew what this game meant. They told me they just like to keep things exciting.”
The Lady Colts took a 2-1 lead on Lily Snyder’s (3-for-3) line drive two-run homer in the fifth inning deep into the pine trees behind left-center field. However, they had their own issues getting runners in, leaving the bases loaded in the seventh.
Calhoun (15-5, 11-3) took advantage of two of Coahulla Creek’s four errors to tie the game in the bottom half. Espee Reyes, who reached on an infield error, scored on another miscue two batters later to send the game to extra innings.
In the ninth, the Lady Colts got an RBI single from Savannah Hott, but Snyder was thrown out at the plate on the play. The would-be insurance run would have made a huge difference after Reyes opened the bottom half with a double.
Two batters later and with Reyes at third, Erin Barnes bunted, but Coahulla Creek pitcher Sophia Voyles threw the ball away at third trying to get Reyes, who scored on the play. Lady Colts coach Josh Swiney, with the winning run at third and one out, elected to walk the next two batters.
With Audrey Wilbanks hitting, Voyles bounced an 0-2 pitch that eluded the catcher to score Barnes with the walk-off run.
“It helped tonight to have our number nine hitter, Espee Reyes, get on in critical situations,” Smith said. “She’s our fastest player and made things happen. I’m pleased with the performance. Maggie McBrayer did a nice job pitching, even though she was worn out.”
McBrayer went the distance, allowing eight hits and striking out 10. Tough-luck loser Voyles gave up six hits and did not allow an earned run while also fanning 10 batters.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296; follow on Twitter @youngsports22.