SUMRALL – Sometimes the ball goes your way, and sometimes it doesn’t - that’s how to describe Sumrall’s 4-2 win over rival Purvis.
Just after Purvis went up 2-0, the Lady Bobcats caught a lucky break in the fifth inning. With two outs and Sumrall’s Adeline Harbor on second, Kara Applewhite hit a base hit to center. Harbor rounded third, but looked to be a sure out at home, but knocked the ball out of the Purvis catcher’s arm to score.
“We know that every time we play them that it’s going to be a good game,” Sumrall coach Dodie Robertson said. “Every game we play against them, it’s a game like this. Sometimes it goes your way, and sometimes it doesn’t. I can replay it in my head. Sometimes when it didn’t go our way, I can tell you the exact person and the exact place where the ball is. I’ve been on the other side of it, but I’m excited for the girls. They found a way to get it done.”
On the next at-bat, pinch hitter Mallory Pope hit a 2-run home run to give Sumrall (16-5, 8-0) the lead.
“She hits really well in practice for us, and that’s what we look at,” Robertson said. “Sometimes you feel like you need a big hit.
“We have some big bats that are sitting, and sometimes you feel like you need a big bat and see what happens.”
Until the fourth inning, the game was more of a pitching duel between Sumrall’s Avery Smith and Purvis’ Hannah Lower, as the two combined for five strikeouts, three hits and one walk.
The Lady Tornados broke the game open after a leadoff hit by Lilly Reynolds in the fourth. Chelsea Regan hit a ball that got past Sumrall’s fight fielder to come up with an RBI triple to give Purvis (13-5, 5-3) a 1-0 lead. On the following at-bat, Aubrey Easley hit an RBI sac fly to extend the lead, but that was the only offense the Lady Tornados could muster as they posted just three hits in the game.
“Hannah Lower pitched to where we could win that game, but our bats have to do more through the lineup,” Purvis coach Lindsay Robertson said. “We left too many stranded.
“We just didn’t get the job done at the plate. That’s what it boils down to. We have to recenter and get the bats hot for the playoffs. We have to get the bats going through the lineup.”
After Sumrall’s home run, Lower was briefly pulled to start the bottom of the sixth as Regan took over in the circle but walked two batters before Lower reentered the game. Lower gave up an infield hit, with Kynnedy Lumpkins driving in a run with a fielder’s choice.
“Avery did her job,” Dodie Robertson said. “Their pitcher was good. We had trouble hitting her. We always do.
“We needed an insurance run. That was huge to get that run.”
In 5.2 innings, Lower finished the game allowing three earned runs off six hits and struck out one while giving up no walks. Smith also completed the game as she allowed two runs off three this, struck out eight and walked two.
Sumrall now secures its second straight district championship and clinches a first-round bye in the Class 4A playoffs.
