By Allen Hilliard (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Norwood Lady Pirates traveled to Crocker on Wednesday evening with a trip to the Class 1 quarterfinals on the line. The game was close for five innings until Norwood scored eight runs in the 6th inning en route to an 8-2 win.
The Lady Lions took a one-run advantage in the top of the first inning as they had the first hit of the game by Senior Sierra Voiles. She was able to score thanks to Junior Morgan Wall who brought her in off a double to center field. The Lady Lions led the game 1-0 after the first inning when pitching shut down the Lady Pirates.
“I was just thinking, that I’m going to hit this ball and she’s going to get in, It just happened,” Wall said.
The Lady Pirates’ first single in the game came from senior Megan Campbell. Sophomore Sierra Cornelison also had a run in the second inning but neither player could score. The score remained at 1-0 for Crocker.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
The Lady Lions came out in the top of the third inning as they were able to collect two more singles and a double but there were unable to score as senior Mangie Fancher, Voiles, and Junior Abigail Posten made it to base for their side of the inning.
The fourth inning was an active one as sophomore Megan Becker and junior Courtney Wiorek had hits for the Lady Lions and junior Jade Coatney had a hit for the Lady Pirates.
The Norwood girls had a chance to tie the game up in the bottom of the fifth inning but their runner was tagged out at home. The score remained 1-0 Crocker.
Crocker began the sixth inning with a hit. They had another sacrifice hit but left a runner on second base in the top of the inning.
Norwood would get things going in the sixth inning. Coatney hit a triple with the bases loaded that gave the Lady Pirates a 3-1 lead. Cornelison brought Coatney in on a double.
One batter later, freshman Cassie Chadwell hit a two-run home run to extend the lead to 6-1.
“It was crazy. It was awesome. I did not know it was a homer until after I hit 3rd base and it got our team going,” Chadwell said.
Senior Maria Chadwell and Josie Sullivan would both score off of hits from Rainy Jerrett and Payton Drake to make it 8-1 heading to the final inning.
Crocker would add one run in the final inning to make the final score 8-2.
“These girls are great leaders. I really did not have to say anything. They just come in and they know when its crunch time and their running out of at bats, they have to do it now,” Norwood head coach Lori Drake said.
Norwood will host Weaubleau on Saturday, Oct. 20 with a trip to the Class 1 Final Four on the line.
