By Michael Lindsay
It took extras to decide a winner Monday evening in Crossville as the Monterey Lady Wildcats defeated the Stone Memorial Lady Panthers in 11 innings, 4-3.
Monterey senior Ali Novak recorded the victory in the circle as she struck out 8 while surrendering 5 hits and 3 walks in 11 innings pitched.
“It starts with out pitcher, Ali Novak,” said Monterey head coach Brad Swafford. “She was able to keep battling and kept her pitch count low early in the game so we could have her in there late. We scrounged to move runners and got the run when we needed it.
“That’s the first time I’ve been involved in that,” added Swafford. “We had our#2 pitcher ready to go, but Ali was able to finish it out.”
Kara VonAchen struck out 6 batters and gave up 5 hits in 9 innings pitched for Stone Memorial.
Neither team found home through the first six innings of Monday’s non-district contest before the Lady Wildcats scored two runs in the top of the seventh. Kaylin Shepherd opened the frame with a triple and scored on the ensuing at-bat via a Haylee Trevathan single to right. Haylee Garthwait scored via a passed ball later in the frame to give Monterey a 2-0 lead.
“We were selective today to make the pitcher work today,” said Swafford. “We stranded a lot of runners today, but we got the runners in when we needed to.”
Down to their final out, Stone Memorial responded in the bottom of the seventh as Whitney Brown hit a two-out single to left, scoring Cami Holbrook and Ellie Smith to tie the game at 2-2 entering extras.
An Addison Robertson grounder in the top of the eighth scored Olivia Webb before the Lady Panthers answered with a VonAchen double to center, scoring Ashley Whittenburg to tie the game at 3-3.
Neither team found home in the ninth or 10th innings before Monterey scored in the top of the 11th as Garthwait drew a bases-loaded walk to score Hayley Lafever, giving Monterey a 4-3 lead.
With a 4-3 lead in hand, Novak and the Lady Wildcat defense retired the Lady Panthers in order in the bottom of the 11th inning to seal the 4-3 victory for Monterey.
“We’ve had a solid defense all year, and they know what to do,” said Swafford. “We try to eliminate two-out errors and we’re used to pressure. The girls work hard and came in today determined. I’m proud of them.”
Monterey is scheduled to host Gordonsville on Tuesday, weather permitting, while Stone Memorial is scheduled to host Cumberland County.
“Games like this fire the girls up,” said Swafford. “If you can’t get excited winning, then I don’t know what excites you.”
