Red Bank softball coach Mandi Munn has always emphasized to her team the importance of avoiding a big inning by the opposing team.
That plan had worked more often than not this spring as the Lionettes totally dominated District 6-AA, but it didn't work on Monday night in the Region 3-AA semifinal against Sweetwater.
The Lady Wildcats advanced to Wednesday's championship game at Meigs County by winning on Monday, using a big five-run fourth as the springboard for the 10-7 victory.
Sweetwater had bolted to an early lead with two runs in the first inning and three more in the second.
The Lionettes responded with five runs of their own to knot the score after three innings, but a hit batter, two Red Bank errors and a Wildcat home run in the fourth proved to be the difference.
Sami Shrader and Hannah Wood both slugged home runs for Red Bank while Zoe Helms and Lexie Wright joined Shrader with doubles for the Lionettes.
Wood was the losing pitcher in her last game as a Lionette by allowing eight earned runs on nine hits. She also had eight strikeouts and finished her final season with a record of 22-6.
SWEETWATER 230 500 0 -- 10 9 2
RED BANK 005 020 0 -- 7 7 3
(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)