By By Will Bardwell / staff writer
Oct. 15, 2003
Heather Alexander drove in the winning runs for North Pike on Tuesday as the Lady Jaguars completed a come-from-behind win against Southeast Lauderdale in the state playoffs.
With two outs in the top of the seventh of the decisive Game 3, Alexander broke an 11-run tie with a two-run double that gave North Pike its first lead of the game.
Alexander's hit gave the Lady Jaguars an improbable comeback win against the Lady Tigers, who pounded North Pike for 10 runs in the game's first inning.
It was the only consistent success Southeast Lauderdale's offense produced in Game 3. Meanwhile, North Pike chipped away at the Lady Tigers' seemingly insurmountable lead with a five-run fourth inning and a Brittney Alexander solo home run in the fifth inning.
Still, Southeast Lauderdale's 10-6 lead in the sixth inning seemed safe until North Pike shortstop Emily Vanlandingham hit a bases-loaded single to trim the Lady Tigers' lead to 10-8.
Southeast Lauderdale finally brought another run across when Lindsey Graham led off the bottom of the sixth with a home run to right field the first of her career.
The 11-8 lead would not hold, though. The Lady Jaguars scored twice in the seventh inning, but Southeast Lauderdale collected two outs before North Pike finally took the lead.
A single by first baseman Megan McMullen was all the Lady Tigers could muster in the bottom of the seventh.
Despite the disappointing end to the season, Southeast Lauderdale head coach Ryan Miller said he was impressed with his team's recent resilience.
Southeast Lauderdale's loss in Game 3 came after a dominating performance in Game 1, giving the Lady Tigers a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series. Southeast Lauderdale won the game 10-3 as pitcher Heather Harper scattered 12 hits.
Outfielder Lindsey Raines and catcher Tamra Harrison both had three hits for the Lady Tigers in Game 1.
It was a stark contrast from Game 2, in which Southeast Lauderdale seized a brief 2-0 lead before losing 8-2. After collecting four hits in the first inning, the Lady Tigers had five innings in which they collected no more than one hit.
Miller said that after Game 2, he wanted his team to quickly regain momentum from the surging North Pike squad.
Miller said the Lady Tigers' core will remain intact for the next two years, and he was excited already about next year's team repeating this season's success.