SOFTBALL: Jeff rallies in 10th to down rival Bulldogs 7-6

By KEVIN HARRIS

kevinharris1972@gmail.com

JEFFERSONVILLE – The Jeffersonville Red Devils refused to lose Monday night at the Ralph Scales Athletic Complex, especially after going down three runs in the top of the 10^th inning against archrival New Albany.

Jeff scored four runs in the bottom half to pull off an unbelievable 7-6 victory over the Bulldogs.

With the score tied at three entering the 10^th, junior Erikah Crosier smacked a two-run home run off Red Devil starter Lizzy Coons to put New Albany (7-7) up 5-3. Later in the frame, the Bulldogs extended their lead to 6-3 when Terah Crosier came home on a Jeff error.

In the bottom of the 10^th, the Red Devils (7-8) loaded the bases with one out thanks to singles by Coons, Lindsey Nelson and Nan Garcia off Bulldog starter Bri Schoenfeld.

Then, Jeff junior Faith Denig tied the game at six with a three-run, bases-clearing double.

Red Devil sophomore Casey Schweitzer delivered the game-winning hit, belting a long single off Schoenfeld to right field to knock in Denig from third base.

“When New Albany hit the homer and then scored another run, I knew it looked bleak,” first-year Jeff head coach Mike Coons said. “But I believe in these girls and knew we could come back and at least tie the game. These girls have been in tight games and have had to fight back many times this year, so we leaned on those experiences.

“It was a great game by both teams. Both teams and pitchers played their guts out. It was a great team win. Everyone stepped up and made plays.”

Bulldogs’ head coach Steve Belden tipped his hat to the Red Devils following the victory.

“I have to hand it to Jeff. After we scored three runs in the top of the 10th, they did not give up and worked themselves to a win,” Belden said. “It was a disappointing loss, but a good learning experience for the team and we should learn from this.”

Jeff pitcher Jennah Tincher got the victory. Tincher relieved Lizzy Coons, who had a strong outing in the circle after pitching eight innings in a 1-0 victory over Corydon Central last Friday. Red Devil senior Kaylee Strong had two hits.

Terah Crosier was 3-for-5 with a double, a run scored and an RBI. New Albany freshman Madison Lawson went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
Schoenfeld was the losing pitcher, giving up seven runs (six earned) on 12 hits in going the distance.

JEFFERSONVILLE 7, NEW ALBANY 6, 10 INNINGS

New Albany          110 100 000 3-6   9 3

Jeff                        000 210 000 4-7 12 6

W – Jennah Tincher (4-5). L – Bri Schoenfeld (3-6). 2B – Lizzy Coons (J), Terah Crosier (NA). HR – Erikah Crosier (NA).
Records – Jeff 7-8, New Albany 7-7.