Published: May 15, 2008 11:58 pm            

Lebanon's Holmes hits Senior Night game-winner

Lebanon — Thursday’s Senior Night was the scene of a wild comeback as one Tiger senior helped lift her team to a 9-8 conference win in her team’s final at-bat. Before the game, fans stood by as the Tigers recognized two senior players in Sarah Skelton and Ashley Holmes, as well as three-year manager Seth Edwards.

Carrie Perras retired the first two batters she faced before giving up a double in her first varsity pitching start. When the next batter singled, a close play at the plate gave the Mounties a 1-0 lead. In the second inning, the Mounties put together back to back singles and a walk. With the bases loaded, they were able to plate two more runners stretching their lead to 3-0.

Unable to manage any runs, the Tigers (12-11, 9-5) still trailed heading into the third. In this frame the Mounties gave the Tiger’s freshman pitcher a rude welcome to varsity softball by putting up four more runs. The inning saw plenty of action with two singles, a double, one hit batter and a home run. Lebanon got out of the frame trailing 7-0. Tiger coach Steve Smith said his defense missed several opportunities to make plays early which also contributed to the Tigers falling behind.

In the bottom of the fourth Lebanon finally got on the board as Kelsey Wolfe scored from third on a passed ball. Following this, Perras began to find her comfort zone as she put together back to back scoreless innings. Tiger coach Steve Smith was complimentary of his pitcher after the game, saying, "I thought Cassie did very well, she got a lot of ground balls."

While Perras was finding her stride on the mound, the Tigers found their stride at the plate. In the bottom of the fifth Raylee Stewart got things going for Lebanon by doubling to center field. Stewart was solid all night at the plate going 2-for-4 with a run scored. Smith said of Stewart after the game, "I like her in the second spot because of her foot speed."

Ashley Holmes would reach next on an infield single bringing freshman Kim Duff to the plate. When the third strike got away from the Mountie catcher, Stewart was able to score as Duff hustled to first beating the throw.

Kelsey Wolfe next reached on a Southmont throwing error allowing Holmes to score. It was a good night for Wolfe, who reached base every time she came to the plate and also scored three runs.

A fielder’s choice and a wild pitch would allow Wolfe and Duff to both score bringing the Tigers to within two runs. With Perras at the plate seeking to exact some revenge on the Mounties, sophomore Chea Miller stole second. She would go on to score when Perras laced a single to right field. The Tigers came out of the fifth trailing 7-6.

Southmont added a run in the top of the sixth inning and looked to be on the verge of more. With runners at first and second and two out in the inning, Tiger center fielder Chea Miller made an outstanding throw after fielding a hard-hit ball. When Tiger catcher Kalyn Harker caught the bullet Miller fired in her direction, she was waiting at home for the arrival of the Mountie runner.

The freshman Perras got the Tigers through the next inning without allowing any more runs. This was possible thanks in part to a fantastic double play in right field by junior Raylee Stewart who caught a fly ball and doubled up the runner at first. Heading into their final at bat, the Tigers trailed 8-6.

Junior Kelsey Wolfe tripled to right field to get things started. The Tigers gained even more momentum when Wolfe came home on a wild pitch. Karson McCollum drew a walk next and Brandie Metcalf was brought on to pinch run. Chea Miller was able to move Metcalf to third and freshman Erica McPeak hit a bloop single that scored Metcalf and tied the game. Perras went on to reach by hitting a huge single which forced the Mounties to load the bases by walking Harker.

Raylee Stewart batted next, grounding out on a fielder’s choice. This brought the senior Ashley Holmes to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded with her team trailing by one run. Creating her own senior night memory, Holmes pounded a Southmont pitch into the gap in left cente rfield driving in the winning run. The Tigers were victorious 9-8.

"It was an emotional game for us, we had two key players out… but I knew one of these innings we were going to break out,” Smith said.

        

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