Lady Ramblers state-bound LaFayette breaks nine-year postseason drought
After nine long years of heartbreak, the wait is finally over the LaFayette Lady Ramblers.
The Orange-andBlack are going back to the Class 4A state softball playoffs after holding on for a dramatic 5-4 win over Gilmer this past Friday afternoon in the rubber game of their best-ofthree Region 6-4A firstround series.
“My stomach was upset all day just knowing we had the potential to (go to state),” head coach Glen Woodard said. “I was worried about us having an emotional letdown after (Thursday night), but they were hitting before the game and I could see it in their demeanor. They were excited to be playing today.”
Gilmer (13-13) took Game 1 on Thursday, coming back from a 6-0 deficit to stun the Lady Ramblers, 7-6. However, the Lady Ramblers (14-11) would turn the tables on the Lady Bobcats in Game 2, erasing a 4-0 hole with five runs in each of the final two innings to win 10-4 and force a winner- take-all-game on Friday.
Gilmer 7, LaFayette 6
LaFayette was just six outs away from winning Game 1, but gave up a pair of runs in the top of the sixth before the Lady Bobcats stunned the home crowd with five in the top of the seventh to pull out the improbable victory.
Freshman Nicky Yancy went 2 for 3 in the opener with three RBIs. Kayleigh Goff had a double and Madison Harris belted a two-run homer.
Jordan Keith threw 6 1/3 innings in Game 1, allowing four earned runs with two walks and seven strikeouts. Hannah Blevins came in to relieve Keith in the seventh and eventually took the Game 1 loss.
LaFayette 10, Gilmer 4
In Thursday’s nightcap, the Lady Bobcats got a two-run homer from Sara Mosley in the bottom of the first inning and they tacked on solo runs in each of the next two frames to go up 4-0 as the Lady Bobcats sensed a doubleheader sweep.
But things would change drastically in the top of the sixth.
McKenzie Hogue led off the inning for LaFayette with a triple off Hannah Bennett and Madison Harris drew a walk before both runners scored on a two-run double by Goff. Yancy then blooped a double to right that brought in Goff as LaFayette cut the lead to one.
With the 25-member strong LaFayette student section, known as the Rowdy Rednecks, getting louder and louder with each pitch, Gilmer turned to ace Taylor Boling to try and stop the bleeding. But Jada Allmon would greet Boling with an infield single and sophomore Ashton Stalling would drive in tying and go-ahead runs with a single to right.
The crescendo from the stands continued in the top of the seventh as LaFayette blew the game open with another five-spot. Freshman pitcher Madison Pettigrew helped herself with a two-run single and three straight bunts by Yancy, Allmon and Stalling would bring in the three final runs.
“Once we got a one or two-run lead, the
crowd started to get into it and the Rowdy Rednecks really got into it,” head coach Glen Woodard said. “They turned it on for us and got us going. Even when we were down 4-0, they were yelling for us. It made our girls realized that there was a ball game going on.”
Hogue finished 2 for 4 in Game 2, while Pettigrew gave up five hits and two earned runs with two strikeouts to get the win.
Boling, who pitched all seven innings in the Game 1 win, took the loss for the Lady Bobcats in the nightcap.
LaFayette 5, Gilmer 4
Friday’s battle saw Gilmer score in the top of the first on a LaFayette error and they would double their lead in the fourth as Katlin Dale doubled home a run, but LaFayette would respond in a big way a half-inning later.
After leaving the bases loaded in the bottom of the second, Pettigrew got things going in the fourth with a one-out double, while a bloop single by Stalling put runners at the corners.
Boling was pulled and replaced by Bennett, who induced a grounder back to the circle off the bat of Yancy. But Gilmer was unable to catch Pettigrew too far off the bag at third, allowing Yancy to reach and load the bases.
Allmon brought in LaFayette’s first run as she was hit by a pitch and Katie Cook earned an RBI by drawing a walk. An illegal pitch by Bennett brought in Yancy to give the Lady Ramblers a 3-2 lead. Bennett would strike out Marquilla Howell, but Hogue would rip a two-run double to bring in what would turn out to be LaFayette’s final two runs of the night.
Boling got a run back with a solo homer in the top of the fifth, setting the stage for a wild top of the seventh.
LaFayette got the first batter out on a fly ball, but a single and a wild pitch would put a runner at second. A throwing error at first base following a ground ball up the middle allowed Gilmer’s fourth run to come home.
The Lady Ramblers attempted to throw out the runner at second at the end of the play, but the throw got away as the runner advanced to third and made a turn for home. However, Gilmer’s third base coach instinctively reached for her runner’s arm in an attempt to keep her on the bag. The illegal contact during a live ball resulted in the runner, the potential tying run, being called out.
Region Player of the Year Karli Loudermilk ripped a two-out single to give Gilmer new life, but a final groundout to shortstop would finally end the game and send LaFayette to state.
“We got down early, but they didn’t quit,” Woodard said. “Like I told the girls, we’re guaranteed at least six more games this season and our bats are finally starting to warm up at the right time.”
Keith started the game and threw four innings of three-hit ball. She gave up two runs, one earned, striking out two and walking two. Pettigrew came into pitch in the fifth and recorded a threeinning save, giving up one earned run on three hits with a walk and one strikeout.
Goff had two of LaFayette’s eight hits on the day. Bennett took the loss for Gilmer.
LaFayette was slated to play at Ridgeland on Monday in the best-of-three region semifinal series, but due to newspaper deadlines, results were not available as of press time. Game 3, if needed, was set for Tuesday at 5:55 p.m. at Ridgeland.
The other region semifinal series will pit No. 3 Northwest Whitfield at No. 2 Heritage.
The region finals and the third-place series will begin on Thursday with a doubleheader.
A third game in those series, if needed, would be played on Friday.