By Tom Dodge

sportsenews@bellsouth.net

PORT BARRE - It seemed only fitting the second-place tiebreaker would go into extra innings and be decided by a single run.

After splitting games in the district season, St. Edmund and Westminster met at Port Barre’s Field on Tuesday afternoon to determine which team would be guaranteed a playoff spot.

WCA scored a run in the top of the eighth inning to grab a 2-1 win over St. Edmund.

“We didn’t give the game away,” St. Edmund 8-18, 3-3) head coach Louise Johnson said. “We fought with outstanding defense and rallied for a run when we needed it - we just couldn’t score another one.”

The Lady Crusaders threatened in the top of the first inning when Morgan Dennis doubled and Kirsten Choplin reached on an error but the St. Edmund defense stiffened when Brooke Fontenot fanned Ruth Juneau to end the inning.

WCA jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning when Dennis singled and scored on a Lady Jay throwing error when Elizabeth Launey laid down a perfect bunt.

With just two baserunners in the first three innings, the Lady Jays forced a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the fourth when Caitlyn Olivier reached on an error and scored on a sacrifice by Taylor Richard.

WCA put runners on base in the next three frames, but the Lady Jay defense stood firm each time to prevent any runs from scoring.

Launey walked to open the eighth inning and moved to the corner on back-to-back sacrifice bunts.

With two outs, Jasmine King ripped a single to left center to score Launey for the all-important second run of the game.

St. Edmund’s final chance to extend the game and perhaps their season came when Simone Guillory reached on a two-out walk but she was forced out at second base to end the game.

“They got the big hit when they needed and we couldn’t,” Johnson said of the close loss. “It was an outstanding effort by both teams.”

Taylor Leger earned the win for WCA as she fanned two, walked four and allowed just one hit.

Fontenot suffered the loss as she struck out two, walked one and allowed two runs on seven hits.

“Brooke did an outstanding job and pitched a great game,” Johnson said. “We just needed to give her more than just one run.

“We just didn’t give her enough on offense.”

The Lady Jays are now hoping for a wild card berth when the playoffs begin next Tuesday.

“We played better as the year went on,” Johnson said. “We played good ball in district.

“I think our record in district will help us and I think we have as good of a chance to make it as any other wild card team.

“If we do get into the playoffs we have to make the best of the opportunity and not let it slip away like this game did.

“Our seniors were all outstanding ball players and kids but we also have a lot to look forward to next year with the players we have returning.”

The brackets will be released this weekend.