VANDERBILT òòò½ÊÓƵ” Tidehaven showed the best version of itself Tuesday night against Industrial.
Fresh off a 2-1 loss against Edna in a makeup game on Monday, the Tigerettes bounced back with a 13-3 District 25-3A victory over Industrial in a crucial battle for playoff position.
òòò½ÊÓƵœIòòò½ÊÓƵ™m so proud of these girls of not just being able to bounce back, but doing it with a fury,òòò½ÊÓƵ Tidehaven head coach Shauna Hazlewood said. òòò½ÊÓƵœThat shows the fight in them, that shows what theyòòò½ÊÓƵ™re capable of.òòò½ÊÓƵ
In five innings, the Tigerettes (15-11, 7-3) mustered 16 hits in an offensive explosion, which saw eight of their nine starters get in the hit column.
The biggest bat however was actually swung by the Tigerette on the mound, Kailea Freeman.
òòò½ÊÓƵœShe works so hard, her heart and soul is in it, even when weòòò½ÊÓƵ™re not working, sheòòò½ÊÓƵ™s working,òòò½ÊÓƵ Hazlewood said. òòò½ÊÓƵœSheòòò½ÊÓƵ™s kind of been struggling at the plate, and to have her come out like that just shows whatòòò½ÊÓƵ™s in her.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Freeman struck out in her first at bat, but the senior responded in her next two at bats with home runs to drive in six runs.
òòò½ÊÓƵœI just changed my mentality, I just thought I need something where I want it rather than I need to hit the ball,òòò½ÊÓƵ Freeman said. òòò½ÊÓƵœWhenever I hit home runs, I just kind of swing and I know it by the way it sounds, I also tend to close my eyes, and I can feel it like itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s going.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Freemanòòò½ÊÓƵ™s two big swings at the plate sparked the Tidehaven offense, but she was not alone. Seven different Tidehaven hitters had multiple hits, while four players drove in runs and had extra base hits.
òòò½ÊÓƵœEverybodyòòò½ÊÓƵ™s mindset was focused today, we all came together and realized we need to play our game,òòò½ÊÓƵ Tidehavenòòò½ÊÓƵ™s Kayleigh Nash said. òòò½ÊÓƵœWe stayed focused and we were very selective at the plate where we were able to get base hits and keep it simple.òòò½ÊÓƵ
While Tidehaven excelled at getting runners on and bringing them around to score, Industrial (12-5-1, 6-4) struggled to bring runners home. The Cobras got runners in scoring position in four of five innings, but only got one hit in those situations.
òòò½ÊÓƵœI think we got in our heads a little bit today because the last time we played them they run-ruled us,òòò½ÊÓƵ Industrial head coach Jordan Qualia said. òòò½ÊÓƵœItòòò½ÊÓƵ™s a mental game, I think anybody can tell you that and I think we were in our heads before the game even started.òòò½ÊÓƵ
The Cobras did turn a 7-0 deficit into a 7-3 game in the fourth inning, thanks in large part to a Tidehaven error. But the Tigerettes responded with six runs to put the game firmly out of reach.
òòò½ÊÓƵœI think we got a pòòò½ÊÓƵ”òòò½ÊÓƵ”òòò½ÊÓƵ” off version of Tidehaven and they really showed it to us today,òòò½ÊÓƵ Qualia said. òòò½ÊÓƵœWe always say in this district it can be anyoneòòò½ÊÓƵ™s game, this district is crazy and itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s about whoever shows up that day is going to win.òòò½ÊÓƵ
As things currently stand, Tidehaven and Industrial would be in the postseason and going in the Division II bracket.
The Tigerettes clinched the season series and a tie between the two would result in the Tigerettes getting the districtòòò½ÊÓƵ™s top seed.
The postseason is not a place where the Tigerettes have found themselves often in recent years, but this yearòòò½ÊÓƵ™s team is chasing big goals.
òòò½ÊÓƵœThese seniors are itching to keep playing, they want to keep it going and make it to the playoffs,òòò½ÊÓƵ Hazlewood said. òòò½ÊÓƵœWeòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve been talking about it since last year for them to leave a legacy and change the tide so to speak, thatòòò½ÊÓƵ™s their thing.òòò½ÊÓƵ
District 25-3A
Tidehaven 13, Industrial 3
Tidehaven 025 06 òòò½ÊÓƵ” 13 16 2
Industrial 000 30 òòò½ÊÓƵ” 3 6 0
W: Kailea Freeman. L: Khloe Lumpkins. Highlights: (T) Freeman 5 IPs, 5 Ks, 1 ER, 2-for-3, 2 HRs, 6 RBIs; Nash 3-for-4, 3B, 3 RBIs, 2 Rs; Duckett 2-for-2, RBI; Mayo 2-for-3, 2B, 3 RBIs, R. (I) Balensiefen 1-for-3, RBI; Kolle 2-for-3. Records: Tidehaven 15-11, 7-3; Industrial 12-5-1, 6-4.
