Douglas High School junior hurler Haylie Pledger delivers a pitch, during the Tigers’ Class 5A North region postseason opener. Pledger struck out five hitters and held the Mustangs to one hit through the first four innings.
Photo by Ron Harpin.
There might have been some tension behind the backstop Tuesday afternoon in Minden.
In the top of the fifth, the sixth-seeded Damonte Ranch Mustangs tied the contest at 1-1 against No. 3 Douglas on an RBI single to right-center field.
Starting pitcher Haylie Pledger had been excellent through the first four innings, allowing one hit and striking out five.
The best way to ease tension is when everyone does their job.
The Tigers plated three runs in the fifth and sixth innings as every single Douglas hitter finished the Class 5A North regional opener with at least one hit.
Pledger finished the game with five strikeouts as the Tigers bested the Mustangs, 7-3.
Douglas will travel to No. 2 Spanish Springs Wednesday for a 4 p.m. start against the Cougars. Spanish Springs won 3-of-4 meetings this season and both league contests.
“We’re expecting a tight game. Our girls know that we can beat them,” said Douglas head coach Allison Meyer. “We’ll go in with high energy and rely on the offense to put the ball in play.”
(Catcher Peyton Simpson connects with one of her two hits Tuesday afternoon in Douglas’ 7-3 win over Damonte Ranch in the opening round of the Class 5A North region playoffs. / Ron Harpin)
GETTING IT DONE AT THE DISH
Douglas finished with 12 hits as a unit.
Senior Annie Hill went 3-for-3, scoring three runs, smacking a double and plating an RBI on a blooper that fell in between two Mustang players in the sixth.
Junior catcher Peyton Simpson had a pair of hits for the Tigers, too.
“She’s had a great approach her last few games. She’s been working that right side of the field,” said Meyer. “Coming back after sitting for that long, … we are over the moon with how she is hitting.”
Tied at 1 in the bottom of the fifth, Marissa McLelland singled in the infield. McLelland moved to third on an Annie Hill base hit before scoring on a wild pitch to break the tie.
Cam McLelland put runners on second and third, doubling to right field.
Pledger grounded into a fielder’s choice, but Hill broke early enough for home and beat the throw to give Douglas a 3-1 lead.
Hailee Lister knocked in the fourth run of the game on a sacrifice fly.
Though the Mustangs scored two runs in the sixth to make it 4-3, Pledger was more than ready to get the runs back with her bat.
Hill made it 5-3 on the blooper before Pledger scored the final two runs of the game with a single to center field.
“Her spin was working great today and she was throwing the batters off balance left and right. This was her third game throwing against them (Damonte Ranch) this season,” said Meyer.
With all nine Tigers recording a hit, Douglas feels it opened regional play on the right foot.
“Oh that was huge. Everybody put the ball. We put the ball in play almost every single at-bat,” said Meyer.
DEFENSIVE GEMS
In the second inning, the Tigers had a pair of defensive plays that each saved a Mustang hit.
With one out, Ava Gildea quickly shuffled to her right to make an outstretched catch, snagging a blooper nearly behind third base, taking away a hit from Damonte Ranch.
The next batter was robbed by Cam McLelland flashing the leather in left field. The senior charged a low line drive, reaching across her body to make a lunging snag to end the inning.
Class 5A North regional results
No. 1 Reed 12, No. 8 Carson 1
No. 2 Spanish Springs 13, No. 7 Galena 9
No. 3 Douglas 7, No. 6 Damonte Ranch 3
No. 4 Bishop Manogue 9, No. 5 McQueen 3
(Cam McLelland makes a diving catch in left field Tuesday afternoon in the Class 5A North regional first round game against Damonte Ranch. / Ron Harpin)