The Heritage Academy fast-pitch softball team appeared poised for a victory Tuesday night.
Central Academy had other ideas.
The Vikings scored five runs in the seventh inning and tallied the game-winner in the eighth inning to claim an 8-7 victory at Harper-Hutchins Field.
“Two years ago, we had a big comeback like that here on this field,” Central Academy coach Sammy Lindsey said. “This is what our girls call their sneak attack. They picked a very good time to have another sneak attack.”
Central Academy (7-11) parlayed five hits into a five-run seventh. A sacrifice fly by Logan Waggoner brought Central Academy within 7-4. But five consecutive batters reached and three scored before the third out of the inning.
Heritage Academy (4-9) committed three errors in each of the first three innings, but Central Academy only scored once. In the fourth, an RBI single by Courtney Gaylord ran the guests” lead to 2-0.
Heritage Academy used back-to-back infield hits from Shiloh Ellis and Hannah Hawkins in the second. However, Heritage Academy didn”t break through until the fourth, when Ellis had a hit and scored on a single by Caitlin McLain.
“I was proud of the girls,” Heritage Academy coach Bud Lowe said. “We put out a good effort. We didn”t blow the game. They came back and took it. We didn”t make any errors in the seventh inning. Give credit to them for coming back and winning the game.”
A pair of very nice defensive plays by Heritage Academy center fielder Macy Walters and right fielder Rachel Stukenborg kept the Vikings at bay and allowed the hosts to rally in the sixth, when they sent 10 batters to the plate and scored six runs.
“We had several big hits,” Lowe said. “We didn”t hit the ball early but we came back and had some hits from players who had not been hitting recently. We just couldn”t make the lead stand up.”
After a popup, a one-out infield error sparked the rally. Kaitlyn Petty followed with a single, and a walk to Allie Lowe loaded the bases. Walters followed with a two-run double to the center-field wall.
A hit batter reloaded the bases. A walk to Hawkins forced in another run and ran the lead to 4-2. After a sacrifice fly, a two-run triple by pinch-hitter Makenzie Bumgarner extended the lead to 7-2.
After the Vikings closed within 7-4, a two-out dropped third strike extended the game. Paige Buchanan and Gaylord followed with back-to-back hits. Gaylord”s hit scored Sarah Norris. After a walk, Claire Blackwell ripped a game-tying, two-run single.
In the eighth, the international tie-breaker was in effect, as Allie Beth Rigdon began the inning at second base. A wild pitched advanced Rigdon to third, while a groundout scored her with the game-winner.
In the home half of the inning, the Patriots used a sacrifice bunt to advance their inherited runner to third. Back-to-back groundouts ended the contest.
“Even if we had a bad inning, I would have been extremely proud of the way we came back,” Lindsey said. “We have a young team with two seventh-graders and two eighth-graders starting. We only have one senior on the roster. These girls are still learning how to play the game.
“While they are learning, they are giving great effort. The future looks bright.”
Heritage Academy finished with seven hits, including multiple hits by Ellis. Central Academy finished with nine hits, including multiple hits by Rigdon, Gaylord, and Buchanan.
Heritage Academy will play host to Jackson Academy at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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