Friday, May 25, 2001
Hamilton squeaks into softball final
Big Blue scores in 11th to edge Fairfield 1-0
By Malcolm Knox
The Cincinnati Enquirer
DAYTON — It rained a few minutes during the ninth inning of Thursday night's Division I regional semifinal softball game between Hamilton and Fairfield, then stopped suddenly. The rain probably didn't want to take blame for ending it.
The Big Blue (23-8) pulled out a 1-0 win when senior catcher Jair Short drove in second baseman D.J. DeLong in the top of the 11th inning.
Fairfield swept Hamilton in two regular-season games, both shutouts. So Thursday's one run was good enough for Hamilton coach Steve Heckman.
“That's the one we needed,” he said. “We just kept saying, "We'll get 'em next time.'”
DeLong singled with one out, but Indians pitcher Emily Breitholle struck out the next batter for her career-high 14th strikeout of the game.
DeLong advanced to second on Autumn Marshall's third hit of the game, a single up the middle. The bases were loaded when Indians shortstop Tara Spinelli misplayed a grounder by third baseman Brandi Jones, bringing up Short.
“There was so much pressure,” she said. “I sat back and waited. I knew it would eventually come over the plate.”
After the game, Breitholle and Short hugged.
“I told her, "Nice hit,'” Breitholle said. “It's just so hard. I thought sooner or later we'd get our chance.”
And the Indians (28-2) had their chances. Three times they had runners at third but failed to produce.
“That was atypical of us,” Fairfield coach Brenda Stieger said. “We usually capitalize on those things.”
Hamilton's Katie Holcomb pitched a complete game, allowing four hits and three walks and striking out five.
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Hamilton squeaks into softball final
