Bob Jones wins city softball showdown with walk off triple
MADISON- Bob Jones was down to their last out Tuesday night but still one hit could tie the game or win it as Emma Jarrett stepped to the plate. She drilled the pitch from Holly Sharp over the centerfielder’s head to score three runs and lift Bob Jones to a dramatic 8-7 area win over James Clemens.
The Jets had dominated the rivalry in recent years winning the last nine against Bob Jones. But many of those players and the coaches have moved on and first-year Bob Jones coach Whitney Deaver got the huge win in her first game against James Clemens now coached by Travis Barnes.
“It is important this is an area win but I don’t want our players to think this is an end all. This is a great win and we needed it for our team morale. They have been working really hard and they were due for a win but we have to get better on the little things we did wrong,” Deaver said.
It was sweet for senior Hannah Pope who was on the losing end of many of those losses. Fittingly, she got the win because she pitched the top of the seventh.
Pope pitched well hitting her spots while twice relieving starting pitcher Emma Jarrett.
Three times in the game James Clemens had two run leads but pitcher Holly Sharp tired in the late innings. In the sixth she gave up singles to Emily Quick and Heather Phillips then a two run home run to Nicole Buccieri.
Maddie McKeon was the starting pitcher for James Clemens and worked into the third before Sharp relieved.
The Jets struck in the first inning as their clean up hitter Laura-Lin Chaffin smacked a home run over the fence in left with a runner on.
In the bottom of the first Mary Kate West threw out a Bob Jones base runner at the plate.
Bob Jones tied the game at 2 in the third on a passed ball but left the bases loaded.
James Clemens grabbed the lead back in the fourth on doubles by Jordan McMeans and Eve Mallard.
Pope entered and got a strikeout to end the inning. Pope then doubled the next inning and scored on Phillips’ single.
Jarrett came on to pitch a scoreless frame in the top of the sixth.
With the game tied James Clemens went ahead in the seventh on Eve Mallard’s sac fly then got another run on a passed ball.
With two on in the bottom of the seventh Nicole Buccieri was intentionally walked to get to Jarrett who had hit the ball hard all game.
The top of the lineup produced for Deaver as Quick, Phillips, Buccieri, and Jarrett had multiple hits.
“That was huge. It was awesome to see Emma get that big hit for her team because I knew she could do it. She had a great game,” Deaver said. “I think I’ve found a good lineup. We were getting hits but now we are stringing them together and bringing runners in.”
Bob Jones will play in a tournament this weekend and their next area game is next Tuesday at home against Buckhorn.
