CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Triskaidekaphobia was real for District 5-4A champ Cleveland on Monday, the 13th with East Hamilton hurler Yulai Woodruff wearing the number, bringing the record-setting Lady Raider season to a close.
Bouncing back from a loss in the District 6-4A Championship game, the Lady Hurricanes claimed a hard-fought 1-0 pitching duel, scoring the game's only run on back-to-back two-out singles in the fifth frame, at Brenda Lawson Field.
Making the TSSAA Sectional playoffs for the third straight season, Coach Norma Nelson's 20-11 "Storm" will blow into fifth-ranked Walker Valley (28-7) Wednesday for the Region 3 championship.
The Feisty Fillies knocked off District 6 Champ Bradley Central 11-3 in Monday's other semifinal contest.
After a pair of Class AA TSSAA State Tournament appearance (201-13), plus finishing fourth in the in Class 3A last spring, the Lady Hurricanes will be looking to punch their first 4A ticket when they face either 12th-ranked Stewarts Creek (24-11) or District 7 winner Smyrna (28-10) in Friday's substate play.
The Lady Hawks knocked off second-ranked and District 8 champ Siegel 1-0 Monday, while the Lady Bulldogs got past 10th-ranked Oakland 5-2.
In their only meeting during the regular season, Walker Valley nipped East Ham 5-4.
Wednesday's title tilt will determine who gets to stay home for the Sectional and who will head to the Murfreesboro area.
Monday's win over Cleveland (22-15) was the second one-run victory over the 15th-ranked Lady Raiders this season for the Lady Hurricanes.
In a match up of top area pitching talent, Woodruff struck out a dozen batters, but scattered five hits and five free passes, but forced the hosts to leave 11 "ducks on the pond."
Roane State signee Ashley Allen countered with four innings of three-hit shutout ball before striking out the first two 'Cane hitters in the fifth.
Jada Rutley set up the game's only score with a single and moved to second on an error by the Lady Raider outfielder.
Bailey Poschke then drove her home with another single, plus moved to second on the throw in as well.
Allen got what turned out to be the final batter she faced to ground out.
Furman signee Lily O'Bryan stepped into the circle for the host in the final two frames, giving up a walk and a hit before finishing off her final two prep hitter with strikeouts.
Getting runners on base in each of its first half dozen at bats, Cleveland couldn't come up with the timely hit when needed, leaving bases-loaded twice.
East Ham had base runners in six frames, but could only get the one home, stranding five on the evening.
Rutledge had knocks in 2-of-3 plate appearances, while Poschke, Woodruff and Alana Johnson had the other three singles.
Cleveland's Ja'Maya Hill, Abby Hozouri, Alexis Folts, Allison Farnsworth and O'Bryan each has a one-base hit for the hosts.
Game Summary
Region 3-4A Semifinal
East Hamilton 000 010 0 — 1 5 1
Cleveland 000 000 0 — 0 5 1
Woodruff and Poschke; Allen, O'Bryan (6) and Mason.
WP: Yulai Woodruff. LP: Ashley Allen. Records: East Hamilton 20-11; Cleveland 22-15.