Indians find consistency, victory

By BRYAN BURNS
Published April 12, 2006

GIBSONTON - As the regular season draws to a close and district play approaches, East Bay could be peaking at the right time.

On Tuesday, the Indians used timely hitting - Brittany Yates' two-run home run gave East Bay its first lead at 4-2 - and strong pitching from Ashley Stubbs (6-6) to defeat Riverview 5-4.

Stubbs feels like the Indians (12-12) might be turning the corner at the right time.

"We were on kind of a slump, but I feel more comfortable with the way we're playing now than at any point this season," she said. "This win gives us a lot of confidence going into districts."

Stubbs took a 5-3 lead into the seventh, looking to close out the complete-game victory. She did so, but not without a scare.

After getting the leadoff batter to pop out, Stubbs gave up a single to Brittany Bell. Bell stole second and, after a groundout, came home on Ashley McClain's single.

Stubbs recovered, however, and got Danielle Gwosdz to strike out looking.

Riverview (16-9) scored two runs in the third inning to take a 2-0 lead, but East Bay, with two outs and nobody on, rallied for four runs in the bottom half.

Kayla Dupree started the rally with a double and came home on Kimberly Pierce's RBI double. Taylor Whidden singled Pierce home, and Yates followed with a deep blast to centerfield. The two-run shot gave East Bay a 4-2 lead they never relinquished.

"When you get your pitches up, they're going to hit them out," Riverview coach Angela Slater said of the Indians' quick scoring. "You have to execute the entire game."

East Bay added an insurance run in the sixth when two Riverview errors cost the Sharks. Yates led off the inning with a walk and advanced to third on consecutive Riverview misplays. Laura Schiffmacher's RBI single plated Yates, who scored what proved to be the winning run.

"This was a huge victory, especially because they're our rival," Yates said. "We're turning things around."

[Last modified April 12, 2006, 01:08:07]