The Gladiators beat the Bears 3-1 in a rematch of last year's title ga

Starting pitcher Casey Schmidt threw seven strong innings for Glenelg allowing just one hit. She credited her defense for the win.

Star pitcher Stephanie Speierman pitched a strong game, striking out 17 batters. The Hammond faithful taped signs with the letter 'K' on it each time she struck out a batter. They ran out of room.

by Brandon Hopp
bhopp@digitalsports.com

Recently whenever Glenelg's varsity softball team took the field against the Hammond Bears, it meant bad news. But on Wednesday, the Gladiators defeated favored and host Hammond 3-1 to take home the Howard County Championship.

Facing a Bears team that had beaten them three times last season, which included the County championship game and once this year, Glenelg (14-4 overall) changed its fortunes with a formula they thought would win them the game.

The winning formula for the Gladiators was simple, good pitching, timely hitting and tough defense.

Sophomore starting pitcher Casey Schmidt handled the pitching, senior Ashley McGlynn and freshman Faith Walter provided the hitting and the defensive effort by 1B Amanda Segrist, 2B Walter, 3B Kylie Pritchard and SS Hope LaHayne locked down the infield to help Glenelg win the title.

"I was really proud of my defense today because the last time we played them, we had a lot more errors," said Schmidt. "This time we were really solid and we relaxed and just fielded the ball..."

"The defense has been very solid all year," Glenelg head coach Dean Sheridan said. "Hope [LaHayne] is really an outstanding catcher but she's a better shortstop...and she's a sophomore. The other three infielders are all freshman. If you're going to hit ground balls, we're going to beat you, for the next three years we're going to beat you."

In the top of the second inning, junior Lindsey Glascock singled up the middle. She later stole second base and reached third on a passed ball. McGlynn came to the plate and hit an infield single. Glascock raced home and was called safe on a 'bang-bang' play at the plate to give the Gladiators an early 1-0 lead.

"I knew I had to make contact," McGlynn said about getting a hit off Hammond's star pitcher, a feat many batters have not had this year. "It probably wasn't pretty but I hit it."

Hammond's starting pitcher Stephanie Speierman struck out the last two batters in the second to get the Bears out of the inning without any further damage. The hard throwing right-hander finished the game with 17 strikeouts and allowed just one walk but the Glenelg batters found holes here and there to come out on top.

"[Speierman] throws hard and because of that, it forces you to try to get to the ball earlier," said Sheridan. "Then that rise ball, she'll just run you off the field with it."

Still trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the fourth, Hammond (15-3) finally got a hit off of Gladiators pitcher Schmidt. Over the course of the first three innings, the right handed pitcher retired the first nine batters that included two strikeouts.

In the fourth, the Bears received a single from Speierman to get their first base runner. Sophmore Kayla Hunley grounded out to the right side, allowing Speierman to advance to second base. Two batters later sophomore catcher Katie McCarthy singled up the middle and Speierman raced around to tie the game at 1-1.

The tie didn't last long, the very next inning, McGlynn hit another infield single and reached second base on a throwing error. A ground out got McGlynn to third base and came home to score on a single by Walter to regain the lead for Glenelg 2-1.

The Gladiators added another run in the top of the sixth as Kayleigh Shaul was driven in by a Kylie Pritchard infield single to give Glenelg all the runs it would need.

"We hit the ball, they fielded it," Hammond head coach Pond Richards said with disappointment. "They were right there every time. You hit the ball hard and right at somebody, you've got the hit the ball where they aren't."

Hammond's last effort in the bottom of the seventh came to an end when LaHayne took a ground ball at shortstop, threw out the runner for the last out and the celebration began for the Gladiators.

In pregame warm-ups back at Glenelg, Sheridan told his team that if they played good defense, not committing more than one error and could come away with at least three runs, they would win the game. His premonition came true today.

Howard County Championship
Glenelg 3, Hammond 1

G 010 011 0 -- 3 6 1
H 000 100 0 -- 1 2 3

Schmidt and Kunze; Speierman and McCarthy.

SOFTBALL: GLENELG CLAIMS HOWARD CO. TITLE FROM HAMMOND

The Gladiators beat the Bears 3-1 in a rematch of last year's title game that Hammond won. VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS/INTERVIEWS HERE!!!

Published: 05/07/2008

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SOFTBALL: GLENELG CLAIMS HOWARD CO. TITLE FROM HAMMOND The Gladiators beat the Bears 3-1 in a rematch of last year's title game that Hammond won. VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS/INTERVIEWS HERE!!! Published: 05/07/2008 Starting pitcher Casey Schmidt threw seven strong innings for Glenelg allowing just one hit. She credited her defense for the win. Star pitcher Stephanie Speierman pitched a strong game, striking out 17 batters. The Hammond faithful taped signs with the letter 'K' on it each time she struck out a batter. They ran out of room. by Brandon Hopp bhopp@digitalsports.com Recently whenever Glenelg's varsity softball team took the field against the Hammond Bears, it meant bad news. But on Wednesday, the Gladiators defeated favored and host Hammond 3-1 to take home the Howard County Championship. Facing a Bears team that had beaten them three times last season, which included the County championship game and once this year, Glenelg (14-4 overall) changed its fortunes with a formula they thought would win them the game. The winning formula for the Gladiators was simple, good pitching, timely hitting and tough defense. Sophomore starting pitcher Casey Schmidt handled the pitching, senior Ashley McGlynn and freshman Faith Walter provided the hitting and the defensive effort by 1B Amanda Segrist, 2B Walter, 3B Kylie Pritchard and SS Hope LaHayne locked down the infield to help Glenelg win the title. "I was really proud of my defense today because the last time we played them, we had a lot more errors," said Schmidt. "This time we were really solid and we relaxed and just fielded the ball..." "The defense has been very solid all year," Glenelg head coach Dean Sheridan said. "Hope [LaHayne] is really an outstanding catcher but she's a better shortstop...and she's a sophomore. The other three infielders are all freshman. If you're going to hit ground balls, we're going to beat you, for the next three years we're going to beat you." In the top of the second inning, junior Lindsey Glascock singled up the middle. She later stole second base and reached third on a passed ball. McGlynn came to the plate and hit an infield single. Glascock raced home and was called safe on a 'bang-bang' play at the plate to give the Gladiators an early 1-0 lead. "I knew I had to make contact," McGlynn said about getting a hit off Hammond's star pitcher, a feat many batters have not had this year. "It probably wasn't pretty but I hit it." Hammond's starting pitcher Stephanie Speierman struck out the last two batters in the second to get the Bears out of the inning without any further damage. The hard throwing right-hander finished the game with 17 strikeouts and allowed just one walk but the Glenelg batters found holes here and there to come out on top. "[Speierman] throws hard and because of that, it forces you to try to get to the ball earlier," said Sheridan. "Then that rise ball, she'll just run you off the field with it." Still trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the fourth, Hammond (15-3) finally got a hit off of Gladiators pitcher Schmidt. Over the course of the first three innings, the right handed pitcher retired the first nine batters that included two strikeouts. In the fourth, the Bears received a single from Speierman to get their first base runner. Sophmore Kayla Hunley grounded out to the right side, allowing Speierman to advance to second base. Two batters later sophomore catcher Katie McCarthy singled up the middle and Speierman raced around to tie the game at 1-1. The tie didn't last long, the very next inning, McGlynn hit another infield single and reached second base on a throwing error. A ground out got McGlynn to third base and came home to score on a single by Walter to regain the lead for Glenelg 2-1. The Gladiators added another run in the top of the sixth as Kayleigh Shaul was driven in by a Kylie Pritchard infield single to give Glenelg all the runs it would need. "We hit the ball, they fielded it," Hammond head coach Pond Richards said with disappointment. "They were right there every time. You hit the ball hard and right at somebody, you've got the hit the ball where they aren't." Hammond's last effort in the bottom of the seventh came to an end when LaHayne took a ground ball at shortstop, threw out the runner for the last out and the celebration began for the Gladiators. In pregame warm-ups back at Glenelg, Sheridan told his team that if they played good defense, not committing more than one error and could come away with at least three runs, they would win the game. His premonition came true today. Howard County Championship Glenelg 3, Hammond 1 G 010 011 0 -- 3 6 1 H 000 100 0 -- 1 2 3 Schmidt and Kunze; Speierman and McCarthy.
PHOTOS (click here for all photos)