Lackland Air Force Base, Texas –
A two-out opposite field single by catcher Rhonda Jeter drove in two runs and gave the Lackland Lady Warhawks Varsity Softball Team a one-run win over their cross-town rivals last week.
Lackland defeated the Randolph Lady Ramblers 12-11 through seven innings March 8 at the Alva Jo Fischer Memorial Softball Complex.
It was the first game and first victory of the 2007 season for the Lady Warhawks in the 2007 San Antonio Parks and Recreation Spring Softball League.
"We all had butterflies," said Oscar Macias, the Lackland coach. "It was real competitive."
Lackland was trailing 11-9 going into the bottom of the seventh. Second baseman Sylvia Webster led off with a walk. Nikki Chachere pinch-ran for Webster. Shortstop Jackie Hudock singled. First baseman Catrina Harden singled to bat in Chachere and cut the Randolph lead to 11-10.
Right-center fielder Tina Cooper made the first out of the inning after she hit an infield pop fly to Randolph shortstop Monika Johncour. Left-center fielder Christy Hayes walked to load the bases. Left fielder Charlotte Banks struck out.
Then, Jeter came up to deliver the winning hit. As an outside pitch came from Randolph hurler Beth Mumaw, Jeter caught the ball and drove it to right-center field. The hit sailed cleanly over the head of Lady Ramblers right-center fielder Jennifer Lozano.
"I just turned and hit it flat over her head," Jeter recalled.
Hudock scored the tying run, and Harden ran home for the game winner.
Altogether, the Lady Warhawks had 20 hits. Jeter went 4-for-4. Hudock went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs and three runs total. Harden went 3-for-4 with two doubles, three RBIs and two runs total. Banks scored twice and went 2-for-4 with two doubles.
Also for the Lady Warhawks, pinch hitter Andra Brutt, extra hitter Mari Hamilton, right fielder Lindsay Mohen and Hayes each scored once.
Johncour twice robbed Webster of a base hit. The rangy shortstop stopped a hard-hit line drive by Webster with a quick leap toward third base during the third inning. Webster hit another hard liner during the fifth, which Johncour trapped with a swift lunge toward second base. Both times, Johncour landed on her belly to make the play.
"You don't see many players bite the ground like she does," said Tommy Bell, the Randolph coach.
Johncour also went 3-for-4 with a double, and she scored twice. With the score tied at 9 during the top of the seventh inning, a bases-loaded single by Johncour gave Randolph a temporary 10-9 lead.