Monica Lane would like to have one throw back against Tullahoma Thursday. It wasn’t even a pitch the senior hurler threw either.
An errant throw to third base was the difference Friday as the Tullahoma Lady Wildcats plated two runs to win 2-1 against the Warren County High School softball team.
The Lady Pioneers, who fell to 4-14, were clinging to a 1-0 lead when the game entered the sixth inning. Lane was cruising in the circle, having extended her scoreless streak to 20 innings while striking out 10 Lady Wildcats in the first five innings.
Tullahoma got runners aboard on an error and single, but Lane’s 11th strikeout gave WCHS two outs and hopes the Lady Wildcat rally would fall short. Then Lane missed her target for the first time all night.
After seeing the runner from third get big leads, Lane decided to try a pick-off attempt. Her throw was low and freshman Ty Ramirez couldn’t make the snag at third.
The ball trickled into left field, allowing both runs to score. Lane got out of the inning by snagging a fly ball, but the damage was done.
Warren County had a golden opportunity to bounce back when the team loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth. Ty Ramirez singled while Chelsey Chandler and Jordin Milanovich each walked to bring Bailey Walker to the plate.
With two out, the freshman catcher stepped in the box hoping to hit the ball hard. Walker did, but it was right to the Tullahoma right fielder as she drifted back and made the catch on the run to end the inning.
Lane got her “K” count up to 13 in the bottom of the seventh with back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning, keeping the Lady Pioneers within striking distance going into their final at-bat.
Lindsey Cox and Samantha were retired in order, bringing Lane to the plate with two outs. Lane did her part, drilling a two-out double to the center-field fence, but the senior would be stranded at second.
Livia Walker, who had scored the game’s first run in the fifth, grounded to the Tullahoma shortstop to end the game.
Lane and the Lady Pioneers were all upset following the game, one each knew was a win that slipped away.
Warren County got the lead in the fifth inning when Livia Walker doubled to start the inning, then scored when Tullahoma threw away a ball at first base while trying to get Chandler out following a bunt.
With Lane continuing her dominant stretch, the Lady Pioneers thought one run would be enough. Coach David Upton, who had watched Lane throw back-to-back shutouts on the road against Cumberland County and White County, believed Lane threw her best game of the week Friday. It turned the miscue was too much to overcome though.
Lane finished the game with a team-high two hits, while Ramirez, Cox, Chandler and Livia Walker had one hit apiece.
Warren County will return to action with a home game against Franklin County Monday. The game doubles as Alumni Night as former Lady Pioneers are asked to come out and be honored before the game. The festivities will start at 6 p.m. while the game is set to begin at 7 p.m.
The Lady Pioneers will be looking to break a second-place tie in District 6-AAA Tuesday when the team travels to play Coffee County. The Lady Raiders, who share a 3-2 district record with Warren County, will play host to the game starting at 7 p.m.