Elementary, Watson

Junior’s heads-up steal propels Lady Rebels to win over Bearden

Haley Hilliard’s first-inning double set the stage for teammate Lindsey Watson’s daring steal late in the game Monday. Photos by Chris Ritchie

By Stefan Cooper
Editor
Blount Press Row

A little sneakiness can be just the thing every now and then.

Lindsey Watson caught Bearden napping and stole second with one out in the sixth, the Maryville junior coming around with the eventual winning run on fellow junior Taylor Hodge’s single in a 2-0 win for the Lady Rebels Monday at Everett Park.

Watson singled to start the sixth, with Maryville catcher Haley Hilliard following her to the plate. Hilliard had doubled to deep left in the Lady Rebel first, so the Bearden outfield was back. The Lady Bulldog shortstop was well off the bag at second.

“I noticed the shortstop wasn’t coming in far enough,” Watson said.

When Hilliard flied out to left, Watson broke for second, getting there just before the tag.

“(Maryville assistant) coach (Buffy) Arms told me if I could go, go,” Watson said. “So I just took off.”

The 2013 Lady Rebels are built on speed, Maryville coach David Allen said. Several players have the go ahead to take off if they think they can get there.

“We’ve got four or five of them that can flat get it,” he said. “I tell the girls, ‘Use your speed.’

“They’re playing her (Hilliard) so deep, they’re going to have to make a good throw to get (Watson).”

Hodge got home with an insurance run later in the inning, more than enough for junior Madison Ogle to close Bearden out in order half an inning later.

The Lady Rebel right-hander fired 14 strikeouts by the Lady Bulldogs in an impressive one-hitter. Only two Bearden base runners boarded on the afternoon, a two-out walk in the Lady Bulldog third and a harmless bloop single an inning later. Neither reached second base.

In her first season as the starter, Ogle, a power pitcher with a mind-blowing fast rise ball, is looking more and more comfortable in her role as the team ace.

“I like it,” she said. “I enjoy being out there and helping the team out as best I can.”

Maryville had so needed Watson’s gutsy dash to break the ice because Bearden lefty Jessie Goodson was having an equally good day with the Lady Rebel batting order.

After Hilliard’s first-inning bash, no Maryville base runner reached second until Watson. Goodson tossed a three-hitter by the Lady Rebels on four strikeouts, the Bearden defense committing only a single, non-scoring error.

Ogle was a buzz saw in the Bearden seventh, ripping through her last three batters on two strikeouts and a pop up back to the circle.