Portsmouth East may be better, but the Green Lady Bobcats rose to the challenge Tuesday with a 4-2 upset win over the second-seeded Lady Tartans in the Division III sectional semifinals.

Wednesday, May 03, 2000

Portsmouth East may be better, but the Green Lady Bobcats rose to the challenge Tuesday with a 4-2 upset win over the second-seeded Lady Tartans in the Division III sectional semifinals.

"East is a very aggressive team. They’ve become a team to beat in the SOC," Green coach Jodi Armstrong said. "I’m very excited about the girls rising to the challenge and beating a team the caliber of East."

Green (4-6) plays at Symmes Valley Monday in the sectional finals. The Lady Bobcats host Portsmouth Notre Dame Wednesday in a Southern Ohio Conference game.

Jessica Butler went the distance for the win as she allowed only four hits. She struck out two and walked one.

"Jessica is a model of consistency. She just throws strikes and let’s the defense play, and we have a good defense behind her," said Armstrong.

Green got a run in the first when Heidi McDavid singled, stole second, went to third on a passed ball, and came home when Erica Bradley beat out an infield hit.

The lead went to 3-0 in third.

Butler and Courtney Moore walked to start the inning and moved up on a passed ball. McDavid reached on an error as Butler scored, and Bradley hit into a fielder’s choice as the second run scored.

Green got its final run in the fourth when Jessie Blankenship and Butler singled, and Moore followed with an RBI double.

East tried to rally in the seventh with a pair of runs.

Erin Flannery singled, moved up on a passed ball, and scored on an error on a ball hit by Amy Allard. On the throw home, Allard went to second, took third on a ground out, and scored on a passed ball.

But Butler retired the next batter to end the game.

Prts. East 000 000 2 – 2 4 3

Green 102 100 x 4 8 1

Sarah Wiltshire and Flannery. Jessica Butler and Jennifer Cline. W-Butler (2-K, 1-W). L-Wiltshire (3-K, 3-W). 2B-East: Jessica Mullins; Green: Courtney Moore, Jennifer Cline. Hitting-East: Jessica Mullins 1-3, Flannery 1-3, Allard 1-3, Day 1-3; Green: Courtney Moore 1-3 (RBI, R), Heidi McDavid 1-3 (2 SB, R), Erica Bradley 1-3 (2 RBI, SB), Ann Barrett 1-3 (SB), Jennifer Cline 1-3, Erica Hall 1-3, Jessie Blankenship 1-3 (R), Jessica Butler 1-2 (R).