Independence rallies for upset

Fort Scott High center fielder Katelyn Simpson slaps a base hit during the first inning of a Girard Class 4A Regional Tournament first-round game at Don Hewett Field Monday afternoon. Although the Tigers scored two runs in the inning, sixth-seeded Independence rallied for a 4-3 upset of the No. 3 Tigers, ending their season. (Kenny Felt/Captured Images)

Sometimes the better team doesn't win. Sometimes, it's the team that does better.

Independence, the No. 6 seed in the Girard Class 4A Regional, did things better in a first-round game at Don Hewett Field Monday afternoon. And they did them better when it mattered.

"They capitalized on our mistakes," Fort Scott head coach Alvin Metcalf summarized. "And we didn't capitalize on theirs."

Going by record and by seeding, Fort Scott (14-5) was the better team. But Independence (10-9) didn't buy into that and for good reason. The Bulldogs had already beaten the Tigers once on this field this season, a 10-6 decision in the second game of a doubleheader back on April 15.

Even Erica Davis' 18 strikeouts couldn't save the day. The Bulldogs did have a couple of solidly-hit balls off the junior hurler but they had their greatest success when they played the short game, bunting runners over because it was about the only way to guarantee making contact.

But an uncharacteristically-shaky fifth inning, in which she threw two wild pitches and walked three batters, helped Indy tie the score at 3-3.

The Bulldogs took the lead with the aid of a controversial call in the sixth. Then pitcher Tori Kebert set the Tigers down in order in the bottom of the sixth and the seventh.

"Erica threw a great game," Metcalf said. "She got in a lull, though, and a couple of balls went to the backstop."

The Tigers held a 3-0 lead after three innings. Katelyn Simpson slapped a hit with one out in the first to get on board and Hannah Hawkins followed with a single of her own. Both moved up on a passed ball.

Afton Gray lifted a sacrifice fly to center that allowed Simpson to score. Hawkins also came in when the center fielder missed the cutoff and then a throw went into Fort Scott's dugout.

In the third, Joce Allen beat out a bunt and moved to second on Simpson's sacrifice. She scored when Indy's shortstop made a bad throw trying to get Hawkins.

But then the Bulldog offense came to life. Kelsie Meier led off the fourth with a flair single to right field that landed just inside fair tarritory. She advanced on a wild pitch, then a passed ball and scored on Kirsten Steinle's sacrifice bunt.

In the fifth, Jessica Kebert drew a leadoff walk, then was replaced by pinch runner Lauren Whitson. Taylor Smith bunted but an error on the play allowed her to reach. After a double steal, Whitson scored on a wild pitch and Smith moved up to third. Another wild pitch allowed Smith to score the tying run.

The Tigers had runners on first and second with two out in the bottom of the fifth but couldn't bring them in.

Bulldog catcher Tina Gomez singled up the middle to lead off the top of the sixth. Courtesy runner Kayla Steinle came in to run. Smith was hit by a pitch with two out. Tori Kebert singled to center and Steinle was waved around third.

Most people who were at the game are going to tell you that the throw from the outfield got to the catcher, Hawkins, about 10 feet up the third-base line and that Hawkins tagged Steinle out.

Most, that is, except for the umpiring crew. The home-plate umpire ruled that there was no tag and a conference with the third-base umpire failed to overturn the call.

Davis allowed three earned runs on five hits, walking four and hitting a batter. The three outs she didn't record herself were made on bunts.

Tori Kebert allowed one earned run on eight hits and three walks while striking out three. She allowed only three of those hits in the last four innings. She managed to leave the bases loaded in the fourth despite walking consecutive batters with two outs.

Erin Coffman went three for four for the Tigers, with a double and a triple. No other player in the game had more than one hit.

This turned out, unexpectedly, to be the final game of the careers of seniors Allen, Simpson, Hawkins and Gray.

"I feel bad for the seniors," Metcalf said. "They had one of the best years of their four-year careers.

"I expected to be in Girard (Wednesday), to be in the finals playing Girard with the players and the pitchers that we have."

It is now Independence that faces the daunting task -- provided there weren't any other upsets on Monday night -- of beating unbeaten teams in consecutive games to reach the State Tournament. Girard, the top seed at 18-0, hosted Parsons. The winner of that game was to face the winner of the Labette County-Coffeyville contest Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Girard's Wutke Field.

Independence will play Wednesday at 4:45 against the winner of the Chanute-Columbus game. Columbus is the No. 2 seed at 16-0.

a -- Did not bat; DP batted for her.

b -- Ran for J.Kebert in 5th; J.Kebert re-entered.

c -- Ran for Gomez in 6th; Gomez re-entered.

a -- Did not bat; DP batted for her.

b -- Ran for Coffman in 5th; Coffman re-entered.

Independence.... 000 121 0 -- 4 5 2

Fort Scott........... 201 000 0 -- 3 8 1

E -- Ki.Steinle, Smith, Coffman. DP -- Independence 1.

LOB -- Independence 7, Fort Scott 8. 2B -- Coffman. 3B -- Ki.Steinle, Sutton, Coffman. SB -- Meier, Whitson, Smith, T.Kebert, Allen. S -- Rollison, Ki.Steinle, Smith Simpson. SF -- Gray.

HBP -- Smith (by Davis). WP -- Davis 3. PB -- Gomez 2, Hawkins.

T -- 1:48.