Lady Tigers defeat Monett in district tournament opener

CARL JUNCTION, Mo. -- The Nevada Lady Tigers varsity softball team opened the post season with a very strong performance in the opening round of the Class 3, District 12 tournament Wednesday.

The Lady Tigers came into Wednesday's game on a high after winning their final regular season game at Butler on Tuesday, and hoped that momentum would carry over into the district tournament. Squaring off against the fourth-seeded Monett Lady Cubs (17-7), the Lady Tigers had a tall task ahead of them, but were still able to come out on top by a final score of 8-2.

"We capitalized on some errors that they had and our bats have woken up," Lady Tigers head coach Tammy Holcomb said.

Head coach Ty Goetz's Lady Cubs won their last two games of the regular season, following up a 6-0 win over Republic in the Carthage tournament with a 4-3 victory over Reeds Spring in the regular season finale. The Lady Cubs have worked their way through a tough season against quality competition, but in the end, were no match for the potent Lady Tigers offense.

Freshman Christian Novak got the start in the pitching circle for the Lady Tigers and was able to keep Monett's hitters guessing through the majority of the contest. Holding the Lady Cubs scoreless, Novak allowed just two hits in her first three innings of work while recording four strikeouts.

The Lady Tigers, on the other hand, wasted little time in getting to Monett starter Paige Marney in the very first frame. The Lady Tigers took quick advantage of two costly Monett errors to plate the game's first run, taking a 1-0 lead before the Lady Cubs even got a chance at the plate.

The Lady Tigers added a little bit of insurance in the top of the third after a string of three consecutive hits loaded the bases before the first out was recorded. After an error at second base by Logan Swope brought in Nevada's second run of the game, the Lady Cubs' defense was quickly able to recover, holding the damage to a minimum and staying within striking distance as the Lady Tigers took a 2-0 lead into the fourth.

Novak began to get a bit shaky in the circle as the home half of the fourth got under way, allowing hits to two of the first three batters she faced. Monett was quickly able to take advantage, getting on the board for the first time on a base hit up the middle by Raigan Ratliff.

An error in center field on the same play by Lady Tigers' center fielder Jessica Neely brought in the second run of the inning, tying the game at 2-2.

The Lady Tigers' offense came to life in the top of the fifth, mounting a strong four-run rally to put an end to that tie in convincing fashion. The bottom half of the Lady Tigers' lineup was responsible for most of that damage as Andi Alexander and Nikki O'Bryan each knocked in a run in the frame out of the eighth and ninth spots in the order.

The other two runs of the inning came on Monett's sixth error of the day as Tiffany Carver bobbled the ball in center field, allowing Alexander and Tori Dahmer to score.

The bottom portion of the Lady Tigers' lineup put on a clinic for most of the day, while the Lady Tigers' Nos. 1, 2 and 3 hitters struggled through most of the contest, going a combined 2-for-13 at the plate.

"We've been pretty solid there throughout the year, so it will come," Holcomb said of the top of her lineup. "They're struggling, they're looking at a lot of pitches and that's what I like."

The Lady Tigers went into the top of the fifth inning with a fair amount of breathing room after their strong fourth inning rally, but the offense never let up. The Lady Tigers went on to put up single runs in both the sixth and seventh inning to extend their lead to six runs, while Novak continued her strong performance, lifting the Lady Tigers to an 8-2 victory.

With that win, the Lady Tigers advanced to the second round of the district tournament and are set to take on the top-seeded McDonald County Lady Mustangs this afternoon, weather permitting. The Lady Tigers have already been beaten by the Lady Mustangs this season, but Holcomb and her team still carry a considerable amount of confidence into second-round play.

"We're ready to go," Holcomb said. "We know what to expect and I think our girls are coming out with a little different attitude this time."