FAIRLEA- The temperature was unseasonably cool, the rain was falling, and the cowbells were ringing, but not even one of those factors deterred the Greenbrier East Lady Spartans on Tuesday night, May 14 at Spartan Yards.
East overcame a 5-2 deficit in the fifth inning and scored five runs in the sixth to cap arguably the biggest win in program history, a 10-7 thriller over the George Washington Lady Patriots in the Regional finals.
With the victory, the Spartans clinched their first ever state tournament appearance in school history since softball was introduced at the school in 1988.
“Refuse to lose and a dream come true,” East senior Taylor Boswell, who had a huge homerun said.
The game had a different feel once it got underway. The Lady Patriots had an extra gear of energy and enthusiasm and seemed poised, focused, and ready to go.
And in the top of the first, they proved that thought.
Kaitlyn Swisher started with an infield single and the next batter, Reagan Wolfinbarger, laid down a bunt that Jenna Groves made the out with the throw. But Ally Martin’s throw across the diamond to third base got away and Swisher scored on the play and gave GW a 1-0 lead. That lead grew to 2-0 when Natali Tomblin scored on a wild pitch just moments later.
The Spartans would answer in the bottom half. Hailey Ervin singled and Boswell chopped a ball to third which Tylie Barton attempted to get Ervin going to second, but the junior slid in safely. Boswell also beat out the play as well. East then tied the score at 2-all when Lily Carola ripped a 2-rundouble to the center field wall and the Spartans were back in it.
GW took the lead back when Karalyne Wade stole home in the third frame. That made the score 3-2, Pats. Swisher then lined a ball to left field which Spartan outfielder Reagan Cline squeezed into her glove and the damage was limited.
The Patriots scored a run in each of the next two innings to take a 5-2 lead and the mood around the field was growing more somber with every rain drop. It almost had the feel of last year when East won the first game of the regionals against this same GW team but lost the next two in heartbreaking fashion.
But…not on this night.
Cline started the fifth with a single up the middle and two batters later, with two outs, Boswell crushed her homerun to cut the Patriot lead to 5-4. That score did not last a minute as the next batter, Bartley, also hit one out to center and just like that, the back-to-back shots tied the game at 5-all, and all of a sudden, the Spartan stands were loud and confident again.
“I know I have to step up for our team in big moments. One swing of a bat can make a difference in a ballgame like this,” Boswell said.
That score remained until the bottom of the sixth when East decided to put the game away and make a little history.
Starting pitcher Mckinzee Hinkley walked Gracie Gumm then Groves bunted and reched on an error by Hinkley. The pitcher was replaced immediately after by fellow freshman Sloan Graley. Graley walked Cline and that was followed by an RBI single from Alanis McClary. Cline would later score on a wild pitch, and after a couple intentional walks later, Carola came through again with a hard line drive 2-run single that put the game away.
The Patriots did score two meaningless runs in the seventh, but Bartley got Lauren Ballard to ground out to Boswell to end it and the Spartans went crazy in celebration.
“After the last out, I was so excited,” Bartley said.
“There was a big relief though knowing that we finally got over the ‘hump’ of no team at East winning regionals. It felt good to be a part of making history here. It was a team effort and I’m so proud of each and every one of them,” Bartley added.
Carola’s 3-4 night with four RBIs led East at the plate. Boswell scored three runs and drove in two more, and Ervin had two hits. Cline scored two runs as well.
Carola started the game pitching and scattered six hits over three innings. She had three strikeouts and allowed just two earned runs. Bartley got the win in relief after four innings, six hits, three runs, and two Ks.
After the game, Ervin spoke about her team’s historic win.
“It’s the most awesome feeling for us to have been the first ever team to make it to a state tournament. It’s just a surreal feeling right now,” Ervin said.
“I sure wish my biggest role model, Josi (sister, former Spartan and current Concord freshman softball player that was in attendance) was on the field with me. She is one of the biggest reasons I play this game. I am going to finish this for her,” she added.
Early reports are looking likely that the Spartans will play in their first ever state tournament game next Wednesday, May 22. It appears they will face University in South Charleston at approximately 9:45 AM.
Stay tuned to the West Virginia Daily News social media and website for more updates leading up to next Wednesday.
