Marshall County Tribune: High School Sports: Moyers delivers for Tigerettes (05/13/10)

Morgan Moyers delivers the game winning hit in the bottom of the 8th inning verus Page in the District 12-AA Tournament semifinals. Tribune photos by Anthony S. Puca

With a chance to play for the District 12-AA title and an automatic region tournament berth on the line, Marshall County freshman Morgan Moyers passed a senior-like exam, driving home fellow frosh Austyn Whaley from third base with the game's only run in the bottom of the eighth inning versus Page at Reese Hambrick Field in Lewisburg.

"I was so happy as I rounded first, I just started smiling," said Moyers after the game. "I knew I had to get up there and hit the ball well. After the ball got through I knew we were going to regions."

Brandie Jett, Whaley, and Kathryn Haislip all had two hits for the Tigerettes, who totaled nine hits in the ballgame, but they also left eight base runners stranded.

Senior Mieke Wallace hurled all eight innings in the circle for the Tigerettes, who outlasted Page 1-0 in the District 12-AA Tournament semifinals Thursday night in Lewisburg.

MCHS senior hurler Mieke Wallace gave up 7 hits in the circle and worked her way out of several jams in the contest thanks to 9 strikeouts and just one base on balls.

Page left two runners on base in the first, second, third, and fifth innings and one was left out there in the sixth.

Reagan Elliot was the tough luck loser for the Lady Patriots, throwing all eight innings.

Elliot kept the Tigerettes off balance most of the game, inducing 12 ground ball outs while striking out just one and walking none.

MCHS center fielder Danielle Toseland comes in the grab a fly ball in the 7th inning.

Marshall County had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the seventh, beginning with a Danielle Toseland one-out single, followed by Mary Medley reaching base on an infield error.

Elliot got out of the tight spot with a pop-up to short and a groundball back to the circle, sending the game to extra innings.

Wallace saved her best for last, sandwiching two strikeouts outside of a pop-up to the hump and the Tigerettes came up to bat in the home half of the eighth.

Whaley led off, drilling a shot into the right center field gap for a standup double.

Brianna Roberts made it first and third with a single to leftfield.

Austyn Whaley crosses home plate with the game winner in front of an estactic MCHS crowd in a 1-0 victory over Page in 8 innings.

Elliot looked like she would escape trouble again, getting the next two Tigerettes before Moyers punched the all-important post-season ticket to play on.

MCHS head coach Holly Cook said after the exciting ending, "It's survive and advance at this point. That's what we did, it wasn't pretty, but of course I'll take a win. That slow pitching has given us problems all year, but hopefully that will have us ready for tomorrow. We found a way, we found a way all year and hopefully we can keep doing that."

The Tigerettes will play for the District 12-AA title tomorrow night at Reese Hambrick Field, tentatively scheduled for 5:30 pm versus Lewis County.