Shorthanded Wildcats drop last two games

RAINSVILLE - After splitting the first two games of the best-of-three series against Plainview on Saturday in the second round of the 3A sub-state playoffs, Colbert Heights, out of gas and short on players, came up empty in the series finale, leaving the Wildcats only one win shy of a berth in the state tournament.

Plainview won the deciding game 3-1.

"I'm proud of the girls," Colbert Heights coach Brad James said. "We had a few unfortunate things happen after we won the opening game. We lost one player after she started feeling poorly and another tweaked her ankle.

"We couldn't seem to get the hits when we needed them, but they played tough and didn't give up."

The Wildcats (34-15) beat Plainview 3-1 in the opener, but the Bears battled back, forcing a tiebreaker with a 4-2 win in game 2.

In the third game, Colbert Heights jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on a Haleigh Bewley home run, one of three hits for the Wildcats in the bottom half of the first, but fizzled out as the game progressed, managing only three other hits in the final six innings.

Plainview's Jessica Bowman, who picked up the win for the Bears during Game 2, struck out five batters and allowed no walks during her seven innings of work in the deciding game.

"Her change-up and riser were both working tonight," Plainview head coach Steve Bowman said of his pitcher. "When she has that combo going, she's tough to handle."

The Bears (30-17) tied the game in the top of the third on an error and moved ahead on an RBI double by Jessica Bowman in the fifth.

Plainview's Katie Bridgeman iced the game in the sixth with a solo shot to center field.

Although the Wildcats fell short, James is confident his squad can bounce back next year in a strong way.

"We have a young team overall," he said. "We had a good year. We start two eighth-graders and a ninth-grader who pitches. (Kristen Claunch) pitched three games earlier this week and came out and did it again tonight. That's tough to do."

Claunch pitched all 21 innings for Colbert Heights, finishing with a combined 20 strikeouts and four walks on 18 hits.

Amanda Wallace had five hits, including a double and a two-run homer.

Trenisha King added four hits, including a solo home run in the opener.

Bewley finished with three hits.

Jessica Bowman finished the series 5-for-8 with two doubles and an RBI for Plainview. Jessica Ferguson added four hits.