By Jon Dustin Brooks, News Messenger
Saturday, May 23, 2009
POLLOK — Cheryl Boyett got the pitch she wanted in the bottom of the eighth, delivered, and then needed a little help getting to first base.
"I almost didn't even make it because I was so excited," said Boyett, Elysian Fields' lone senior who ripped a 1-2 fastball into the right-centerfield gap, easily scoring Jordan Simmons from third for the game-winning run in the Lady Jacket's 3-2 win over Warren in the deciding game of a best-of-three Class 2A, Region III semifinal playoff series Saturday at Central Pollok High School.
"My coach had to tell me to keep coming, keep coming," Boyett continued. "I just knew I had to pull through for the team."
Simmons, meanwhile, the Lady Jackets' starting right fielder who hasn't been in the line-up since the middle of district play, was inserted into the No. 7 hole for this series and the sophomore came through with a pair of hits in Saturday's Game 2, including a leadoff, stand-up triple that straddled the left field line and set up Boyett's walk-off drive in the eighth.
"It was crazy; I hadn't been hitting all year, it was just insane," Simmons said. "Coach asked if I wanted (Boyett) to bunt and I said no because I knew if she bunted, they were going to try to get me."
Simmons also led off the sixth with a single, stole second and later scored on a Lacy Liles sacrifice fly to give her team a 2-0 lead heading into the seventh.
Elysian Fields (32-9) broke a scoreless tie in the fifth with an Ashley Quintana sacrifice fly to center that scored Danie'l Goss.
"It was kind of nerve-racking but I've worked hard all week, staying after practice to hit a lot," Simmons said. "(The single) kind of helped me notice that I could do it because I haven't really had that much confidence. It picked me up."
The Lady Jackets almost needed no extra-inning heroics to get the win, their sixth straight in the postseason.
Trailing 2-0 with three outs left in its season, Warren got back-to-back singles from Amber Kelley and Jordan Spivey to lead off the seventh but Elysian Fields pitcher Blair Hickey recovered to strike out the next two batters, leaving her team an out shy of the win.
Lady Warriors' nine-hole hitter Victoria Conner then drew a walk to load the bases, after which Brandi Burns smoked a hard ground ball that bounced hard off Elysian Fields shortstop Savannah Quintana's leg. The ensuing throw was too late to get Burns at first and Kelley and Spivey each scored on the play, forcing extras at 2-2.
"I don't like playing close games but it's good for us to have a close game because we hadn't been in one in the playoffs yet," said Elysian Fields head coach Shane Smelley. "I've been telling the girls something bad is eventually going to happen and we're going to have to come back from it. Luckily we were the home team and we were able to come back with some key hits in the eighth and win."
The win gave the Lady Jackets a sweep over Warren (27-8) and advanced them to next weekend's regional finals where they will face Rosebud-Lott or Corrigan-Camden at a time and place to be determined. It will also be for the right to a spot in next month's state tournament, a place the Lady Jackets last went to in 2006, falling in the title game. Elysian Fields won the 2A championship in 2005.
Both teams had chances unfulfilled prior to the late innings. Warren had the first opportunity in the top of the third when Conner and Burns occupied second and third with only one out.
Conner was tagged out at home on a bunt back to Hickey in the circle for the second out, however, and Hayley Unruh grounded out to Quintana at short to end the threat.
Elysian Fields later left the bases loaded in the fourth when Candise Wise had an infield flyout and Liles flew out to short.
The Lady Jackets still cranked out nine hits on Warren's Chelsea Walters, led by Goss, Savannah Quintana, Simmons and Boyett, who each went for two.
Hickey got the complete-game win, striking out nine, walking one and giving up five hits. Walters took the loss in a complete game, hitting two batters and walking none.