SWITZERLAND -Reedy Davenport likely couldn’t wait to get back on the field Wednesday and get some much needed revenge.
Two years ago as a sophomore Davenport left the field watching Columbia celebrate on her home field after an opening round 11-10 win over host Bartram Trail.
She vowed Wednesday to not let it happen again.
Davenport, 2 for 2 with 2 RBI, took it personal in helping No. 5 Bartram Trail avenge the 2016 loss with a 7-5 win over visiting No. 6 Columbia (21-5) in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs.
Not much needed to be said prior to the game as the loss two years ago served as plenty of motivation for the game as well as the possibility of playing their last game in a Bears uniform.
“It was talked about a little bit, we knew it was going to be a tough challenge with their hitters but we didn’t forgot what happened two years ago,” Davenport said.
Davenport, a Florida Gulf Coast signee, didn’t waste anytime leading off the first with a walk, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. An errant wild throw from catcher Reece Chasteen over third base allowed Davenport to score the first run of the game and give the Bears an early 1-0 lead.
Maegan O’Brien followed with a single and Olivia Creamer followed with a one out single to put runners on second and third with one out; however Columbia pitcher Cris’ Deona Beasley got out of the inning with consecutive pop ups.
Early on Beasley and Bears starter Nicole Mansako were deadlocked in a pitchers duel as both pitchers gave up hits but were able to get out of every jam.
Leaving runners on base every inning proved to be costly for both teams as the Bears left eight on base including two on in each of the first three innings, while the Tigers left seven including the bases loaded in the fourth.
Ultimately it was the fourth inning which proved to be the difference in the game for both teams.
Story Giebeig led off with a double down the third base line, Whitney Lee followed with a single to left and SK Lewis drew a one out walk to load the bases for the Tigers.
Beasley had a chance to help herself by tying the game or give her team the lead and sent a shot off the glove of third baseman Emily Sikes. Davenport from her shortstop position picked up the ricocheted ball and fired home to catcher Haley Provensal for the second out of the inning nullifying the tying run from scoring.
Tiger coaches and fans argued Giebeig got around Provesal but officials disagreed and ruled her out after a brief argument. Making things even worse for the Tigers was the fact Mansako got out of the jam by throwing out Sofia Arata at first after a grounder to the mound. Bases loaded with 1 out and no runs for the Tigers in the inning, which would come back in the end to bite them.
The stunning defensive stand seemed to spark the Bears offense as well as they attacked Beasley with ease scoring four all with two outs to take a 5-0 lead through four.
Beasley got a fly out and a strikeout to start the inning; but Davenport doubled to center, O’Brien laid down a perfect slap bunt and Savannah Parker 2 RBI double to center off the wall scored Davenport and O’Brien for a 3-0 lead.
Creamer singled in Parker and scored on a error by the first baseman giving the Bears a 5-0 lead through four innings.
Columbia wouldn’t go away though as with one out Lauren Hutcherson and Morgan Hoyle both singled and scored on Geiberg 2 RBI double to right cutting the lead to 5-2 and chasing Mankato (14-0) out of the game.
Hannah Dugan came in for the Bears and got out of the inning without further damage getting a grounder to Sikes and a pop up to center to end the inning.
Seeing the momentum shift a little bit, the Bears needed a big play and got it.
Emma Morris reached on a one out walk and with two outs Davenport sent a Beasley pitch high over the center field fence for a two run home run and 7-2 lead. At the time nobody knew how important that home run but it ended up being a huge play in the game.
“We knew they had the same offensive team as two years ago, the difference was we gave up 8 walks then and tonight we gave up one,” Bartram Trail coach Jen Harman. “We didn’t think two runs were enough, they have great hitters and they are capable of scoring runs.”
Dugan retired six of the next 7 batters she faced since coming into the game but ran into some trouble in the seventh. Hoyle singled in between strikeouts, Lee singled to right and Dara Gaylard put a Dugan pitch high over the left field wall cutting the lead to 7-5 with two outs.
However, Dugan regrouped and got Lewis to pop up to first baseman Parker to end the game and send the Bears into the second round for the first time in three years.
Davenport (2 for 2, 2 RBI), O’Brien (3 for 4), Parker (2 for 3, 2 RBI) and Creamer (2 for 3, 1 RBI) led the Bears offensively.
With six of the seven runs scored with two outs, one thing is for sure the Bears find a way to produce runs no matter the outcome.
“We are not giving up and we will keep fighting a find a way to win,” Harman said. “Don’t assume the inning is over and keep up the pressure and our girls also believe in each other.”
Now they must believe after getting one monkey off their back that they can pull off another one next week. As the revenge tour continues next Tuesday as the Bears (25-2) travel to Gainesville in the second round of the Class 7A playoffs with a chance to get revenge for a first round loss last year to the Hurricanes.
