October 9, 2008

Quitman sweeps Lady Tide 2-1;13-2 to end Picayune's season

by Carey Meitzler

Quitman-- Picayune appeared to have the second ranked Quitman Lady Panthers on the ropes in Game 1 of their best of three

series, but a reversal of a call change the complexion of the game and the Lady Tide never recovered in dropping both games

in the opening round of the Class 4A Slow Pitch playoffs.

 In game one, Quitman broke a scoreless game with two runs in the bottom of the fourth on a bases-loaded walk and a fielder's

choice.

The Lady Tide put a run on the board in the fifth. Sarah Dodd reached on an error and gave way to courtesy runner Natassia

Poole.  Clarrisa Jones' fly ball to left field bounced off the tip of the Quitman left fielder to put runners at second and first base.

Millie Gill singled to left to load the bases. After a fly out for the first out, Brandi Rabion plated Poole on a deep sacrifice fly to

left center cutting the lead to 2-1.

Photo by John Young

Taylor Seals makes a running catch as Katie Kent backs up the play against Quitman.

After Dodd retired the Lady Panthers in order in the bottom of the fifth, the Lady Tide went back to work in the top of the sixth.

Tiffany Reed and Taylor Seals singled to start the ending.  After a fly out and a fielder's choice put runners at first and third,

Dodd hit a fly ball to left field.  Quitman's Relanda McFarland made a long run toward the foul line and had the ball in her glove

for a split second, but was unable hold on to the ball and complete the catch.  Reed crossed home plate to apparently tie the

game.  After the play was over, the Quitman coaches asked the umpires to rule the play a catch.  After a brief meeting, the

base umpire, who was positioned between first and second base on the play, overturned the call of the home plate umpire

who had originally given a safe or no-catch signal.  Coach Kristi Mitchell then asked for an explanation from the umpires.

"They told me, that after thinking about it, the girl had taken one step with the ball and therefore it was a catch.  I think it was

obvious, that was not the case.  She never came up with the ball to complete the catch.  That was a huge turning point in the game

and we never re-gained our intensity.  But, you have to give them (Quitman) a lot of credit.  They are really, really good.  I just

wished that call would have stood as it was originally called by the plate umpire, because I think we had them on the ropes and

who knows, we might have been able to win the first game and had some momentum in the second game," said Mitchell after

the doubleheader.

Quitman banged out 17 hits in the second game to win 13-2 in six innings.

Seniors Tiffany Reed, who had four hits in the two games, Mallorie Mixon, and Katie Kent played their last slow-pitch

game for the Lady Tide.

Picayune finishes the season with a 16-5 record, ranked 8th overall in the state.

Photo by John Young

Tiffany Reed singles against Quitman in Game 1.