Lady Pioneers Lose Region Title Game In Extra Innings

SPARTANBURG -- The SMC Lady Pioneers suffered a heartbreaking 4-3 loss on the last play of a nine-inning game against Pitt CC on Sunday to finish second in the 2011 Region X Tournament.

The Lady Pioneers tied up the game 3-3 in the top of the 7th inning, holding Pitt scoreless in the bottom and taking the game into international overtime innings.

Freshman pinch-hitter Jessica Bonham (Nations Ford HS / Fort Mill, SC) tied it with a two-run single, driving in Leah Babson (Stratford HS / Goose Creek, SC) and Amanda Hayes (Pickens HS / Pickens, SC)

But with one out left in the bottom of the ninth, Pitt scored on an error to put the game-winning run on the board.

Earlier in the day, the Lady Pioneers climbed their way out of the loser's  bracket -- defeating Louisburg 8-5 in the semi-final game, and then shutting out Pitt CC 4-0 in the first game of the championship round.

This is the second year in a row that SMC has lost to Pitt in the final game of the Region X championship and an automatic berth in the NJCAA Divsion I National Fastpitch Tournament.

Three Lady Pioneers were named to the Region X All-Tournament team, including sophomore Brittany Phillips (Broome HS / Pacolet, SC), freshman KC Shue (Concord HS / Concord, NC), and freshman Bailey Smith (Crest HS / Shelby, NC).

"I am very proud of this team. They showed character, heart, and determination throughout this entire tourney. We had a ton of great individual performances but our "team" performance is something I will remember for the rest of my life and hopefully this wonderful group of eight amazing sophomores do the same. We have a great group of freshman returning and we will return to work toward a Region X title," says head coach Thad Fox.

Spartanburg Methodist College has 14 intercollegiate teams that compete in Region X of the National Junior College Athletic Association, which includes colleges in the Carolinas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The College is in its 100th academic year of providing a quality education to students in a Christian environment. More than 90 percent of SMC graduates continue their education at other institutions of higher learning.
 
For more information please contact athletic director Mark Perdue at (864) 587-4237.