MERIDIAN —
A play here, a call there, that's all that separated Southeast Lauderdale as it squeaked past West Lauderdale 1-0 on Tuesday night in Collinsville.
In a game where both the Tigers and the Knights couldn't seem to find anything on offense, a huge defensive play from Southeast's Shakira Shoemaker made all the difference.
In the bottom of the fifth with a runner on third base and one out, West third baseman Alexa Hogan lifted a fly ball into center that appeared certain to plate a run. However, Shoemaker had different plans, camping under the ball and delivering a strike to the plate in the air to gun down the advancing runner just in time for the out.
“That was a big play at the plate when Shakira (Shoemaker) threw the ball in,” Southeast head coach Mack Fanning said. “It was also a good play for Katie Dawson to catch the ball and make the tag in time.”
Southeast pitcher Taylor Powell was relieved after to see the out called to end the rally.
“It was nerve-racking,” Powell said of the play. “The whole game was nerve-racking, I'm just glad we got the win.”
Two innings later it would be Powell's turn to shine, as Southeast loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the seventh. After two Tigers reached on errors, West elected to intentionally walk the bases loaded to set up a force at any base.
Powell did not disappoint, driving a ball deep enough to left field to score the Tigers’ only run of the game. On top of pitching all seven shutout innings, Powell went 1-for-2 at the plate with an RBI to lead Southeast.
“I was just thinking whatever it takes to win,” Powell said. “I really wanted to get this win.”
A double play the next batter ended the inning, leaving the Knights with a chance heading into the bottom of the seventh.
The home crowd packed to near capacity roared as Mallory Turner laced a single into the outfield with one out to give the Knights life. However Randal Walker's loud fly ball the next at-bat fell hopelessly into the glove of Southeast's Bre Roulier in left. Southeast shortstop Denisha Knight finished off the Knights the next batter as she fielded a short-hop on the fly and made the play to end a wild win for the Tigers.
“We had plenty of chances to score,” West Lauderdale coach Cary Luke said. “We just didn't execute. We had opportunities, but it was a defensive game all night long. We just didn't do it, and one run was going to win it.”
The win brings Southeast to 4-1 on the season, while West moves to 4-2 with the loss.
Sports
Southeast slips past rival West Lauderdale
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