Marion C. Early ace ends Delta's season in 1A quarterfinals 1-0

ASH GROVE, Mo. -- Tiffany Holman fired a one-hitter as Marion C. Early ended Delta's season with a 1-0, eight-inning victory in a Class 1A quarterfinal game Saturday.

Holman continued her dominating form as she obtained 22 of the 24 outs via the strikeout.

Earlier in the week, Holman threw a no-hitter at Dadeville in the sectional round, fanning 19 batters in the process.

"She had probably the most beautiful rise ball I've seen in my life," said Delta coach Laura Brown. "She was a strong pitcher. That ball popped. It was like nothing we saw from around here."

Brown said her team faced a slower pitcher in its sectional win over Bakersfield and was hampered by a lack of practice time due to inclement weather.

"It would have been nice to have an extra day to see some faster pitching, but I guess nothing can prepare you for a beautiful rise ball. The girls just couldn't lay off it."

Holman, a junior, walked three batters. The only hit she allowed was an infield single by Ashley Martin in the third inning.

Rebecca Cook, the hard-luck loser, allowed just four hits and walked two. The Lady Bobcats, who finished the season at 11-10, were striving to reach their second straight 1A final four.

Marion C. Early (19-7) pushed across the winning run in the top of the eighth. Jessica Ash opened the frame with an infield single and went all the way to third on a sacrifice bunt by Stephanie Robertson. Catcher Amy Howe then delivered a game-winning single.

Brown said it was mental game by the time the bottom of the eighth rolled around.

"They didn't go up to the plate in the last inning with a lot of confidence," she said.

Despite the loss, a second straight trip to the quarterfinals meant something to Brown.

"I'm proud of them getting that far," said Brown. "There's no reason to be disappointed. They played their best."