BY RUSSELL HUFFMAN
TheFlashToday.com
(Jacksboro) When the wheels came off the Honeybees Class 4A playoff run they did so in spectacular fashion as the Graham Lady Blues scored eight runs over the final two innings to swipe away the Area title 8-3 from Stephenville.
Stephenville (22-15-9) won game one of the series 2-0 and Graham returned the favor with a 5-3 victory to set up the winner-take-all situation Saturday. The Honeybees took a shaky 1-0 lead in the third inning when a long fly ball by Julia Flores scored Kristen Pettit.
Every time it appeared Stephenville was about to bust open the floodgates and score more runs Graham, pitcher, Emma Southerland came through for the Lady Blues. Stephenville loaded the bases three times and didn’t score runs. Each time that happened it appeared Graham got a little looser and unworried they trailed 1-0.
Staying relaxed led to five runs for Graham in the top of the sixth inning and a 5-1 lead. Stephenville responded by loading the bases in the bottom half of the inning and making it a 5-2. The Honeybees were a batter away from getting Flores to the plate when the third out came and the rally ended.
The Honeybees were down 8-2 before Flores got the final at-bat of her high school career and she showed what a difference maker it might have been as she sent the only home run of the game over the fence to end the scoring at 8-3.
“I want to say thank you to my seniors. Their hard work, dedication and the legacy they have left here will be carried on by our younger players of whom I am very proud of,” Coach Rus Mayes said. “To our parents and fans, THANK YOU! The cans, decorations, snacks and all the support were phenomenal and appreciated!”
| Lineup | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morgan DiCiccio | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Madison Gilder | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Julia Flores | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Samantha Luna | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bianka Garcia | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Jessica Ebeling | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Jettie Funderburgh | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Skye Gaitan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Kristen Pettit | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Katie McIrvin | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Totals | 29 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 8 |
Batting2B: Morgan DiCiccio
HR: Julia Flores
TB: Morgan DiCiccio 2, Jessica Ebeling, Julia Flores 4, Bianka Garcia, Madison Gilder, Samantha Luna, Kristen Pettit
RBI: Morgan DiCiccio, Julia Flores 2
SAC: Morgan DiCiccio, Madison Gilder
ROE: Morgan DiCiccio, Julia Flores, Kristen Pettit
FC: Skye Gaitan, Samantha Luna
SB: Kristen Pettit
| Pitching | IP | #P | S% | H | R | ER | SO | BB | HR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julia Flores | 7.0 | 103 | .680 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Totals | 7.0 | 103 | .680 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
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