Cinderella got to go to the ball. Raegan Stella got to be the ball. At least be “one” with the ball, as her single in the bottom of the seventh – in walk-off style – capped a three-run rally by Veterans that ended in a 9-8 win over Perry.
The inning started with E Myers’ double. Taylor Frye replaced her as a courtesy runner. Kaylee Brown singled moving Frye to third. Jalah Gainous walked, but a throwing error during her at bat enabled Frye to score. Katie Killebrew walked following. Aleah Ostrat sacrified Brown home with a fly ball. Jenna Thomas walked and that got the mice … uh … “players” … on the bases and set up the storybook ending for Stella.
At first it appeared Perry might get its first win over the Lady Warhawks in at least two seasons.
The Lady Panthers got out to a 2-0 lead in the first. Veterans went ahead with three but Perry scored three in the third and two in the fourth. The Lady Warhawks cut it to 7-6 with three runs in the bottom of that inning but the Lady Panthers appeared to cut an insurance run in the top of the sixth.
Between the two they put up 23 hits, which was just three shy of the first time they met this season.
Stella finished 3-5 with the run driven in and two scored. Trinity Thiel was 2-4 and made the most of them. She drove in two and scored one. Myers also had an RBI while going 1-4 and Ostrat drove in one while going 1-2.
Allison Peavy and Reagan Hughes helped lead Perry’s offense. Each was 1-4 but each also drove in two. Harley Crumley, 1-3, also had an RBI as did Miranda Lawhorn in a 2-4 day at the plate.
Peavy also worked a complete game for the Lady Panthers. She gave up the hits and runs while walking four.
On the flip side, Veterans used two, Myers and Jenna West. Myers threw three and West the rest. Myers gave up eight hits and seven runs while striking out four and walking one. West gave up two hits, a run, struck our three and didn’t walk a batter.
Elsewhere, Houston County got a no-hitter from De’Jah Dunn and a perfect game from Lauren Ross to beat Valdosta in a doubleheader held Wednesday at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.
The Lady Bears won the first 15-0. That was Dunn’s gem – her only mark being to hit one batter during the four innings it lasted.
Ross’ win came via a 17-0 rout. It lasted only three innings due to the fact Houston County scored 12 in the first and five in the second.
