Last year, the Sweetwater Lady Wildcats’ schedule was full, and an annual meeting between the two fast pitch neighbors did not happen. For several years, however, the Lady Wildcats of Sweetwater and the Lady Waves of Midway have gone to battle, and the result has always been a war on the diamond. This year’s first meeting proved no different.
For eight innings, nothing could be settled, and the scored remained 0-0. In the top of the ninth, three successful bunts by Sweetwater and one big error by Midway would be the difference in the game, and the Lady Wildcats pulled out the 1-0 victory.
In the bottom of the ninth, the international tie breaker rule went into effect for the Lady Waves, and courtesy runner Kayla Roberts was placed on second to start the frame. Midway threatened to tie the score back up when a Kati Alexander sacrifice grounder moved Roberts to third base. With two outs, Paige Moree drew a walk and stole second. With two outs and runners on second and third, Taylor Narramore made contact with the ball, but would ground out to the short stop.
Win or lose, true fast pitch fans do not complain about games like this. All-State pitcher Hannah Colyer was in top form, striking out the first nine batters she faced. Colyer recorded a total of 16 strike outs. The All-State pitcher had a perfect game going until the seventh inning, when a Sweetwater batter bunted successfully to ruin it. The Midway defense kicked in when needed and recorded several put outs. Except for a couple of mistakes at the end of the game, the defense of the Lady Waves looked sharp.
Between two rain-outs at Coalfield, the Lady Waves managed to get in a win over Copper Basin last weekend. With a 4-1 record, the Green girls will now take the next week off for Spring Break. The Lady Waves will return to action next Friday in the Anderson County Tournament in Clinton.