'Mighty Casey' Powers Lady Tigers to Walkoff Win
Sep 14, 2006, 22:51
Dave Kopp
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| Lady Tigers (left to right) Lauren Fischer, Jennifer Mifflin and Brittany Martin greet Casey McNeel (4) after her walkoff RBI triple gave WHS a 2-1 victory over St. Pius X Thursday. (Photo by Dave Kopp) |
WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- This time, Mighty Casey didn't strike out.
Casey McNeel came up with the big gun, then shot down St. Pius X with the big hit, lifting Warrensburg to a 2-1 walkoff victory in West Central Conference softball Thursday at Jennies Field.
A freshman batting at the bottom of the order, McNeel ripped a triple to score Andrea Kostas with the winning run in the bottom of the seventh. Four innings earlier, the Lady Tigers' center fielder cut down a runner at the plate.
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| Warrensburg sophomore pitcher Emma Gonzalez struck out a career high 12 batters while tossing a two-hitter in Thursday's win over St. Pius X. The right-hander allowed zero earned runs. (Photo by Dave Kopp) |
"Our team stayed up, they stayed behind me and that helped out a lot," Gonzalez said. "Just having the confidence of the team behind me and having them think that I can do it and being there behind me helps a lot."
"As the game went on, she got a little more consistent," WHS head coach Russ Hough said. "We started making the most of opportunities in their lineup and stayed away from some of their better hitters."
Warrensburg took a 1-0 lead in the first. Brittany Martin led off with a walk and stole second.
Kiley Swopes followed with a single to left, advancing Martin to third. On the next pitch, Swopes bolted for second, but St. Pius tried to pick off Martin at third.
The throw was wide and zipped into left field. Martin turned and dashed to the plate.
The Lady Tigers appeared to pick up a second run when, with one out, Gonzalez hit a nubber in front of the plate. The throw to first was wild, Swopes rounded third and raced home.
Gonzalez, however, was called out for running inside the baseline, an obstruction call, and Swopes was ordered back to second.
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| Warrensburg catcher Brittany Martin tags Mariann Cammisano of St. Pius X in the third inning of Thursday's game. Cammisano was trying to score from second on a single, but was thrown out by WHS center fielder Casey McNeel. (Photo by Dave Kopp) |
The next hitter, Stephanie Beaubien bounced a single up the middle. The runner, Mariann Cammisano, was waved around third and headed for the plate.
McNeel came up with the bouncing ball and fired a strike to Martin, who made the tag for the final out of the inning.
The score remained 1-0 until the sixth. Beaubien walked to lead off the inning and went to second on a single by Caitlin Casey.
The Warriors then attempted a double steal and when the throw to third went into left field, Beaubien scampered home with the tying run. With two outs, Martin made amends, gunning down Casey as she attempted to steal third.
Back-to-back one out singles by Lauren Fischer and Gonzalez put runners on first and second in the sixth. Warrensburg, however, was unable to push home the go-ahead run.
Gonzalez worked through an uneventful seventh, setting the stage for the walkoff heroics in the bottom of the inning.
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| Carrying the winning run, Warrensburg's Andrea Kostas races around the bases to score on a triple by Casey McNeel in the bottom of the seventh. (Photo by Dave Kopp) |
Kostas motored around the bases and scored without a throw as McNeel coasted into third with a triple. As the dust settled, McNeel stood on third base, unaware the game was over.
"I was really surprised, I didn't know the game was over because I forgot it was the seventh inning," McNeel said. "It was a perfect pitch for me to hit, right in the zone. I didn't think I hit it that well, but it sounded really good and kept on going."
Coming on the heels of Tuesday's extra inning loss to Sedalia Smith-Cotton, this win is huge for the Lady Tigers.
"It's always good to win one, especially the way the season's gone," Hough said. "Another freshman comes through, that's two good games in a row for her. She made a great play on defense to take a run off the board and then, obviously, the game-winner. I'm happy for her."
"It's big," added Gonzalez. "We're always happy to win and it's nice to have a win against a tough opponent."
Warrensburg rapped seven hits. Kostas led the way, going 2-for-3.
Martin threw out two of a possible four base stealers and had one of Warrensburg's four steals. Swopes, Jennifer Mifflin and McNeel also had stolen bases.
The Lady Tigers will try to carry the momentum into the Pleasant Hill Tournament on Saturday.
"We're going to have our hands full with a couple teams," Hough said. "Any wins when you're struggling can give you a little confidence and belief in yourself. We're not fooling ourselves, we're a long ways away, but we're moving in the right direction."
