Diamond Drama

Seventh inning decides Gator -Seahawks regional semis

If ever there was a case of a game not being over until it’s over, it was Thursday night’s regional semifinals in Eastpoint.

The second-seeded Franklin County Lady Seahawks were clinging to a slim 3-2 lead heading into the top of the final inning, where the visiting third-seeded Wewahitchka Lady Gators were three outs away from elimination.

After Haley Green ground out to Seahawk pitcher Sarah Ham, senior Ashley Thompson singled to second base, and then freshman Eden Rustin flew out to seventh grader Shasta Butler at shortstop to put the Lady Gators one out away from defeat.

Gator junior Laiken Farrell got a hit down the third base line, advancing Thompson, the tying run, to second.

It was then that Savana Mayhann blasted a three-run home run over the center field fence to give Wewa a 5-3 lead, this time with Franklin County three outs away from their season being over.

Seahawk sophomore Averie Johnson opened the inning with a pop fly to the Lady Gator first baseman.

Seahawk freshman second baseman Lilah Millender then delivered a hard shot to the Gator shortstop that squirmed past her glove. Junior Raegan Dempsey than lofted a shallow fly ball just out of reach of the Gator right fielder.

Seahawk freshman Jayla Creamer then slapped a shot to the Gator second baseman that added a second out, but not before the Seahawks had scored a run to narrow Wewa’s lead to 5-4.

Junior Sarah Ham then smacked a liner to left field that got past the Wewa fielder, and scored two runs, the last one handing the Lady Seahawks a 6-5 walk-off win and a chance to face top-seeded Liberty this Tuesday, May 14 in Bristol. The Lady Bulldogs easily dispatched Cottondale 9-0 on their home field Thursday night.

Wewahitchka struck first against Franklin County, by plating two runs in the top of the first inning before a packed bleachers full of enthusiastic Lady Gator fans.

Ashley Thompson led off with a hit down the third base line, and then stole second before Eden Rustin was struck out by Ham. Thompson advanced to third on a passed ball, and Ferrell then walked, and and later stole second.

Mayhann then cracked a sharp grounder to Seahawk second baseman Lilah Millender, whose bobble led to the ball getting past her and into centerfield, and Wewa scoring two runs.

Ham closed out the inning by striking out Hope Thompson and Emma Rustin.

Franklin County got one run in the bottom of the third, when sophomore Lexi Webb hit a two-out double to left field, and then junior Michalynn O’Neal drew a walk.

Junior Charity Larkin sliced a grounder past the Wewa shortstop that drove home Webb.

Wewa sophomore pitcher Severa Haney then put and end to the inning by getting Johnson to ground out to the Wewa third baseman.

After three scoreless inning for Wewa, and two for Franklin County, the Lady Seahawks went ahead in the bottom of the sixth. Millender flew out to the Lady Gator shortstop, and then Dempsey laced a single to right field to get the rally started.

Creamer slapped an infield ball to the Gator second baseman, which was bobbled, putting runners on first and second,

A Ham shot up the middle led to an overthrow of first base and a Seahawk run, and then Johnson hit a fly ball to short center that would bring home a second run.

The Lady Seahawks produced 10 hits and committed two errors, while the Lady Gators produced six hits and committed three errors.

Ham went the distance for the Seahawks, striking out six, walking two and giving up no earned runs on six hits.