Jenny Elder
Register Sports Writer
RICHMOND
Fri, May 16 2008
—
It was eerily silent for five and a half innings at Model on Monday as the Lady Patriots were looking for their second trip in three years to the All “A” State tournament.
Somerset (13-9) held an early 1-0 advantage and time was running out in the sectional game.
Enter Shelby Schneid to provide the spark that led to a 4-2 rally win in Richmond.
“If you need a miracle play look to Shelby,” Model pitcher Maggie Green said. “She’ll go at it.”
Schneid’s first big defensive play was catching a dropping line drive and then she backed that up by showing her range. The shortstop picked up a ground ball just in front of second base to throw the batter out and end the top of the sixth.
That spark ignited the top of the Lady Patriot (12-3) batting order to get things going. Hannah Heath drew a walk and then scored when Tara Curtis ripped a double into left center.
“I told her I was going to make her mad every time she gets up from now on,” Model coach Kelli Bromley joked about Curtis’ hit. “She was supposed to bunt on the second pitch. She misunderstood me and let the strike go right passed. I kind of yelled at her and she stepped back in and crushed it to the fence.”
The sophomore had a solid line drive her first attempt, but right at the center fielder. Then she popped out to the second baseman in shallow right field. But, with two strikes showed no fear in getting the big hit.
“I had a lot of adrenaline going with the game and how it was going and how we were behind,” Curtis said. “Kelli looked kind of mad when I missed the (second sign) so I knew I had to do something. When I hit it I just pushed it with all my might and it just felt good.”
Before that Kelli Jo Stapp had the lone hit in the first five innings with a single that glanced off the pitcher in the bottom of the third. Olivia Pennington followed that with a walk, but the Lady Briar Jumpers worked out of the two-on, no-out situation unscathed.
And with six outs left, time was running short on the usually explosive Model offense — which was averaging eight runs a game.
“I think, honestly, we were feeling the pressure because we knew the storm was coming in,” Bromley said. “We talked about it before the game that if we got four full innings it would be over and that we had to score by then. I think we just were pushing too hard.”
It did not help when those balls they were connecting with went foul or right at a Somerset defender. But, the offense found its rhythm just before the storm hit.
Heath worked the count and became the first lead-off batter to reach since Stapp’s single.
“Even though I didn’t get a hit, I knew my teammates would pick me up and move me around,” Heath said. “We were all pumped up in the sixth inning because we knew we needed to get our job done. And we got it done!”
Schneid followed Curtis’ hit with a bunt single that turned into a double off a throwing error. The two sophomores scored when Green helped her own cause with a long fly ball to center field. The ball glanced off the outfielder’s glove for two runs and three bases for the senior.
Green added the final insurance run off a fielder’s choice by Deanna Johnson.
Somerset started the seventh with a lead-off triple, but Green struck the next batter out and picked up a grounder for two outs with the runner still on third. A misplayed ball kept the Lady Jumpers alive, but Green struck out the final batter to end the game.
“It feels good because this tournament is something they look forward to,” Bromley said. “I’m proud they did not give up and even though they were nervous they played through.”
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