FAIRLEA – On Wednesday evening, the Greenbrier East Lady Spartans held their senior night festivities, honoring each of the seniors-Ally Martin, Emily Pyles, Haley Byars, Jenna Groves, and Liz Wooding-with each girl thanking their teammates, coaches, and families via a recording over the PA system.
However, the emotions and tears may have been too much to overcome, as the James Monroe Lady Mavericks came into Fairlea with confidence and left with a 12-9 win.
The score was the same as the Spartans’ first meeting, which they won.
The Mavericks took the early lead when Chloe Bert doubled home. Peighton Griffith and James Monroe led 1-0 at that point.
East (14-9) responded in the bottom half, as Reagan Cline, who singled and had a big game, scored on an error, tying the game at 1-1 after one full inning.
However, the early back-and-forth play continued.
With two outs and two runners on, JM’s Arianna South ripped a 1-2 pitch over Cline’s head in center field, scoring a run. The Mavericks added two more runs on the next batter due to a Spartan defensive error, and James Monroe scored three runs in the frame to lead 4-1.
However, Cline did not keep the momentum going for long.
After Pyles and Sydney Norman drew walks to get on base, Cline hit a three-run homer to center to tie the game at four. Two batters later, Haylee Heaster doubled home Martin, giving the Spartans a 5-4 lead after two.
But, once again, James Monroe (7-12) refused to be discouraged by falling behind.
They would score three more in the third, capped by a two-run single from South, giving the Mavericks a 7-5 lead.
They then increased their lead to 11-5 in the top half of the fourth inning, courtesy of four Spartan errors. South had an unusual inning, as he came up to bat and hit an RBI single to cap the scoring.
Down 12-5 in the fifth frame, the Spartans attempted to chip away at the deficit and mount a comeback. It began with singles from Campbell Bundy and Maddie Baker, followed by Cline’s two-run triple, which made the score 12-7.
However, Cline’s next two-run triple in the seventh would be the Spartans’ final runs on the board, and James Monroe, who had arranged for the game to be played in Fairlea so the Spartans could have senior night, returned across the border with an impressive rival victory.
The loss did not take away from Cline’s outstanding performance. The sophomore went 4-5 with a homer, two triples, two runs, and seven RBIs. Bundy was 2-2 with a run, the only other Spartan with multiple hits.
Pyles and Madilyn Wellman shared pitching duties. The Mavericks scored 12 runs, six of which were earned.
South led James Monroe’s offense with four hits and four RBI.
East visits Beckley on Thursday, May 1 to face Woodrow Wilson.
