(above photo) The Southeast Middle School Lady Jaguars – 7th grade softball team 2011

The seventh grade softball team from Southeast Middle School had to score a run in the bottom of the sixth inning to preserve the win over visiting Meadowlark Middle School, 9-8.

A Lady Jaguar base runner in called out on a close play at first

The Lady Mustangs put three runs on the board in the top on first, thanks to some uncharacteristic fielding woes for the Lady Jaguars.  SE pitcher Autumn Fuller kept the damage to a minimum by striking out the side, but the four errors did yield three runs and gave Meadowlark the early lead.

SE battled back in the bottom of the first and C. Heller scored to cut the lead to 3-1.  The Lady Jaguars threatened to add more runs, but the side was retired with runners left on second and third to end the inning.

In the second inning Fuller disposed of the Lady Mustangs quickly, getting three up and three down.  SE scored five runs in their half of the second inning.  Two walks and an error loaded the bases with just one out.  Heller came to the plate and hit a fly ball to right field that made it over the right fielder’s head, clearing the bases for three runs.  Heller and H. Key also scored later in the inning and after two innings, SEMS had jumped out to a 6-3 lead.

Both teams were held scoreless in the third inning, but Meadowlark was able to tack on a single run in the top of the fourth to narrow the gap to 6-4.  The Lady Jaguars scored, what proved to be, two very important runs in the bottom of the fourth.  Heller crossed the plate for her third run of the game, and Key touched home for the second time in this close ball game.  The lead was now 8-4, after four complete innings of play.

Heller slides safely at home for the winning run

Meadowlark kept the pressure on SE and scored one run in the top of the fifth and three more in the top of the sixth.  The game was going into the bottom of the sixth all tied, 8-8.  With the lead off batter going down on three strikes, it was Heller’s time to bat.  She hit a pop up that dropped between short and third for an infield single to put the game winning run on base.  She had the green light on the base paths and stole second and third on consecutive pitches to her team mate T. McGinnis.  The third pitch got past the Lady Mustang catcher and Heller was on her way to scoring her fourth, and game winning, run of the game.

Head coach Patrick McGinnis had been instructing his girls to get a big lead at third during the entire game to increase their chances of scoring on a passed ball.  It could not have come at a better time!  This win should be credited to some good coaching and some heads up base running by the Lady Jaguars.

Autumn Fuller pitched another complete game for the Lady Jaguars.

An excited McGinnis said after the game, “no one expects us to win, we’re just a bunch of seventh graders.”

Great job ladies on your 9-8 victory!