The door was opened, however, when Samantha Hayes reached on an error to start things off. After Clarissa Johnson flied out, Kendra Hayes laid down a bunt. The throw to first was off line, allowing Samantha Hayes to race all the way to third, placing runners at first and third.
After Ellie Wittenberg was intentionally walked to load the bases, Wascher lined the first pitch she saw into center, allowing the Hayes sisters to both score, clinching the game and the tournament championship for the Lady Hatchets.
“We really battled,” said Makayla Taylor, head coach of the Lady Bulldogs. “After the way we played two weeks ago, you wouldn’t have thought we were the same team. We had a good game plan and we had a lot of fight tonight. I’m very happy with where we are right now.”
Two more outs and she would have been even happier.
After falling behind 2-0 in the opening inning, St. Anthony battled its way back and took the lead in the top of the seventh.
Ady Rios, who had three hits, scored three runs and stole four bases, led off with a ringing double into the left-centerfield alley. Lilly Gannaway then reached on a bunt single and Julia Schultz was intentionally walked to load the bases with no outs.
Ava Walton drove in the run with a ground ball to short for the first out. Camille Wines then walked to load the bases again, but a chance for a big inning ended when Samantha Hayes struck out the next two batters.
“Ady had a great game tonight,” Taylor noted. “Every team wishes they had an Ady Rios. I’m really proud of her.”
Stranded base runners have proven problematic for the Lady Bulldogs in recent games. They left 12 on base against Teutopolis and 13 against Tolono Unity. Friday night, it was nine, with six of those in scoring position.
“We’ve been leaving a lot of runners on,” Taylor said. “We’re doing the hard part. We’re getting people on base. We’re just having trouble getting them in.”
WSS struck first. After loading the bases, Kendra Hayes lined a 1-2 pitch up the middle, driving in a pair of runs.
St. Anthony tied the score with a two-run third. With one out, Rios singled, stole second and went to third when Gannaway reached on an infield hit. Schultz then found the left-centerfield gap for a two-run double.
Both teams scored in the fifth. Rios tapped the ball in front of the plate, but beat the throw for an infield single. She then stole second and third and scored on a passed ball.
The Lady Hatchets came right back. Alaira Friese reached on an error, Samantha Hayes singled and Kendra Hayes walked to load the bases with one out. Friese then scored on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Wittenberg.
“I thought we played great Tuesday and Wednesday, and okay tonight,” Taylor said. “We used small ball to put us in position to win, but unfortunately, we made some errors and they cost us this game.”
Samantha Hayes got the win, but was not as dominant as she was in the first contest against St. Anthony or the semifinal victory Wednesday over Altamont when she threw a perfect game. Friday night, she allowed nine hits, while walking four and striking out seven.
Nancy Ruholl also had a strong game on the mound. In that first game against WSS, she lasted only 1.2 innings, allowing eight runs on four hits and five walks. Friday night, she went 6.1 innings and gave up 10 hits and five runs, although three were unearned. She walked three and struck out two.
“I was impressed with Nancy’s mental toughness,” Taylor noted. “She worked the ball inside and outside and jammed several batters. Kudos to Nancy. She’s been putting in a lot of hard work and showed a lot of grit tonight.”
The Lady Hatchets improved to 22-4 on the season.
The Lady Bulldogs are now 12-11. They will return to action Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, facing Effingham in the annual City Series.
“I feel like this season has been weird,” Taylor said. “Every time we start to get a little rhythm, we get a rainout. There’s been no flow to the season. But we played really well this week. We’re starting to get into a flow again. We’re looking forward to the City Series.”
