October 21, 2015
Portageville heading to its second straight Class 2 semifinal
BOWLING GREEN -- A lot of the time, Taylor Tiffany is Portageville's defense. The senior hurler has given up an average of 2.5 hits per game and has struck out over half the batters she's faced this season, leaving little for the defense behind her to do...
Portageville Heading To Its Second Straight Class 2 Semifinal
BOWLING GREEN -- A lot of the time, Taylor Tiffany is Portageville's defense.
The senior hurler has given up an average of 2.5 hits per game and has struck out over half the batters she's faced this season, leaving little for the defense behind her to do.
But that's what usually happens.
On Saturday, Bowling Green threw a wrench in the pattern Portageville has grown accustomed to putting the all-state pitcher in consistent predicaments that only the eight around her could wash away.
Portageville (24-5) defeated Bowling Green 3-0 during its Class 2 quarterfinal clinching its second straight trip to the state semifinals in Springfield.
"We don't usually get a lot of balls because of Taylor, but I think we did pretty good," Portageville second baseman Shelby Rone said.
Tiffany gave up six hits and struck out seven -- a pedestrian total for the senior who's on the verge of resetting her own Missouri single season strikeout record -- during her sixth postseason shutout in a row.
Bowling Green (24-3) was the culprit in Tiffany's atypical day.
"I'm not so much sure that Taylor didn't have her stuff, it's just Bowling Green did their homework," Portageville coach Ashlie Patton said. "They were ready for us. Bowling Green's a really good team. We needed our defense to step up and they did."
Bowling Green prepared for Tiffany as best they could. They cranked up its pitching machine, moved the distance from pitcher's mound to home plate in hopes of simulating Tiffany's speed. They also had the benefit of seeing Tiffany once before.
They were fueled by last year's quarterfinal matchup when Tiffany mowed down the Lady Bobcats during a no-hitter striking out 17 in the process of Portageville's first postseason run.
"It was more of a surprise factor the last time we played them," Bowling Green head coach Dean Streed said. "We did the extra batting practice and knew to lay off her riseball early in the count. We knew what to expect this time around."
As the away team, Bowling Green immediately put Tiffany in a jam.
Mallory Feldewerth led off the game with a single. She was bunted to second by Anna Noble and advanced to third on an error by shortstop Callie Roberts. After Tiffany coaxed a strikeout to get the second out of the inning, centerfielder Cayla Crafton broke towards a fly ball in left-centerfield reaching for the catch just in time to get Portageville out of its first inning scare.
"I feel like they knew what to expect this year, which is normal," Tiffany said.
Crafton aided the shutout again in the second inning, gunning down pinch-runner Alyssa Starks at home. The two-out throw was caught slightly up the third base line by catcher Destiney Crossno, who applied the thigh-high tag just in time.
"I was actually not my best today, but I had the defense behind me today which is phenomenal," Tiffany said. "We came in wanting to work hard and stay within ourselves. They helped me. That was awesome to be able to feel that and have them work."
Crossno derailed another potential run-scoring opportunity in the fourth.
With two outs and Bowling Green's Sarah Harness standing on third, Abbey Moore laid down a bunt that rolled just a few feet in front of Crossno. The catcher picked up the ball and was partially blocked by Moore's stride to first. Rather than risk a dangerous throw, Crossno faked the toss to first, turned towards Harness and ran her back to third base where she flipped a throw to Mikayla Rone for the tag.
"Whenever batters did hit we wanted our defense to improve because you never know," Tiffany said. "Sometimes they could hit the ball and you always have to play. Just to have our defense step up was awesome."
With Tiffany relying on her defense to make plays, she took it upon herself to lead the offense.
After Shelby Rone walked to start the second inning, Tiffany laced a double down the left field line. Rone made the trek from first to home sliding well in time before the throw reaching the plate. Tiffany took third on the throw.
"I knew (assistant coach Billy Cook) was going to send me," Shelby Rone said. "We knew it was going to be a tough game so I know we had to get on the board before they did."
Tiffany noticed Bowling Green third baseman Kaylan McKee creeping towards home anticipating a bunt during her double. Portageville's second-leading batter rarely lays one down.
"To have their third baseman come in and me hit that shot down the third base line and Shelby score, that was awesome," Tiffany said.
Tiffany later scored when Crafton punched a bunt right at McKee. Bowling Green's third baseman was charging when Crafton showed bunt, but the ball went through her legs.
"It was the little things that beat us today," Streed said. "The relay on the hit, not getting the glove down on the bunt. You can't have those things happen in games like this."
After flawless fifth and sixth innings from Portageville's defense, the offense manufactured an insurance run in their half of the sixth. Kelsi Miller, Shelby Rone and Tiffany strung together three singles before Savannah Lovins poked a ground ball towards the first base line. Bowling Green first baseman Destiny Lindsay made the stop on the ball, gained control as Lovins passed by and tried getting the force out at home but Miller crossed safely for the 3-0 advantage.
Bowling Green brought the tying run to the plate in the top of the seventh after a walk and infield single. Feldeworth worked a 3-2 count before Tiffany caught her looking to end the game.
Bowling Green pitcher Madison Ingram gave up two earned runs on four hits. She also struck out three. She led the Bobcats at the dish with a double and single.
Portageville will play Lathrop (25-3) on Friday at 1 p.m., at the Killian Softball Complex in Springfield. Iberia (24-3) and Fatima (21-9), the defending state champions, will matchup in the other semifinal.
Bowling Green 000 000 0 -- 0 6 1
Portageville 020 001 x -- 3 4 1
WP -- Taylor Tiffany. LP -- Madison Ingram. Multiple hitters: (P) Tiffany 2-3; (B) Ingram 2-3. 2B: (P) Tiffany; (B) Ingram.
Advertisement
Advertisement