FORT POLK, La. - Lindsey Gregory stroked a game-tying two-out RBI single and came in with the winning run on a line-drive single by Shelby Prolozola to lead the Lady Warriors to a 3-2 victory over Lucky Laydeez in intramural softball action May 10 at the Fort Polk Soldiers Athletic Complex.
"I was just trying to calm down and get a solid hit," Gregory said of her single that drove in Nikki Richardson with the tying run. "I knew that if I got on, Shelby would bring me in."
In fact, Prolozola said she and Gregory had discussed that situation just before Gregory's at bat.
"I told her I would tie it if she would bring me in," Gregory said. "She came through."
Prolozola, who was hitless until her late inning heroics, said she changed her strategy during her final at bat.
"I went back to my fast-pitch softball swing," Prolozola said. "I wasn't having any luck with my slo-pitch swing so I decided to change."
For a while it looked as if the Lucky Laydeez would come away with the win. Loretta Adams led off the game with a walk for the Laydeez, swiped second base, went to third on a single by Julee Bornowski and scored on a RBI groundout by Faye Charlot.
The 1-0 lead lasted until the bottom of the third inning when the Warriors tied the score. Nina Middleton began the frame with a single. After stealing second, Middleton moved to third on an error by the Laydeez left fielder and came around to score on an infield single by Alana Jeane.
The teams remained tied 1-1 until the top of the final inning. Bornowski started the inning by reaching on an error by the Warriors' shortstop. She stole second and moved to third on a groundout before coming around to score on a sacrifice fly by Sharron Hays. The 2-1 lead lasted until Gregory and Prolozola led the Warriors comeback.
Warriors coach Jamie Fink said the late-inning nail biter was nothing new for her team.
"We always come back in the last inning," she said. "I wasn't worried when we fell behind. I knew we had it from the beginning. I saw who we had coming up in the last inning - we were right where we wanted to be."
Laydeez coach Rose Nero said the game was one her team let slip away.
"Their pitcher was throwing a little faster than we were used to," Nero said. "Our batting stroke was off and we let them stay in the game."
Nero said extra hitting practice would take place at the team's next practice. "Our sluggers struggled," she said. "We let them off the hook this time; that's going to be our last loss."
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