| Down 1-0 in the bottom of the 11th inning, Will C. Wood softball co-coach Thalia Puddy struck a deal with her players.
"If we get this one, no practice on Monday," Puddy shouted to the home dugout.
Three at-bats later, Cherylynn McGraw responded with a one-out, game-winning single that scored Tempe Hoover from second, and the Wildcats beat visiting Vintage in a 2-1 defensive marathon on Friday.
McGraw said after the game that Puddy's bribe had no bearing on her grounder that squeezed through the hole at second.
"Well, maybe a little," McGraw admitted.
Actually, a minor hitting slump, and a strikeout with Kim Ariza standing on third to end the eighth, gave her all the motivation she needed.
"It felt great,' McGraw said of her RBI. "Especially after that strikeout. That was devastating."
The Wildcats also squandered an opportunity in the bottom of the fifth when Alex Laughridge belted a stand-up triple to left field and was left stranded.
But defense was the theme for the game. Both sides made it nearly impossible to score. McGraw's play at short, and Hoover's arm in right field, thwarted several base hits for the Crushers.
Starting pitcher Alison Airoldi gave up 10 hits, but few were dangerous, as the infield gobbled up ground balls like it was starving.
Vintage pitcher Carolyn Knudson kept the Wildcats off balance with underwhelming power.
"She doesn't have a lot of speed but her movement is incredible," McGraw said. "She's one of the best pitchers we've faced this year, second probably only to Cory Partch (of Vacaville)."
Wood (4-4 MEL, 7-6-1) will be at Armijo for a doubleheader on Wednesday.
SOFTBALL
Wood: 2
Vintage: 1
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