After a sheepish grin and nervous laugh, Todd Beamer softball coach Brian Hering got straight to the point earlier this week.

The Titans have renewed their rivalry with Thomas Jefferson softball junior pitcher Leanne Bryant in particular.

Luckily for Beamer, it secured the season sweep over its new cross-town rival, in an 8-2 win over the Raiders, Monday.

The Titans (8-5) earned their second consecutive win over Jefferson (3-7) in a three-day span.

Despite Beamer’s win/loss record advantage, Bryant may hold the psychological advantage.

Hering admitted Beamer has had a rough time against Jefferson when they see No. 2 pitcher take the circle.

“We struggle with them,” Hering said. “Leanne [Bryant] is a great pitcher. For some reason, all three years against her we have not hit her well. I think we’ve actually only beat her once in ‘blowout’ fashion. The rest of the time have all been extremely close.”

The first two innings in the final meeting of the season between the two was no different.

The Raiders did exactly what they needed to do to start Bryant out with a lead in the first inning. Jefferson loaded the bases, and Desirae Lambert’s deep fly ball to center field allowed Kayla Gaerttner to score.

Bryant shut down a game-tying threat in the bottom half of the inning, but the Titans tied the game at one in the second inning and took a 4-1 lead in the third after RBIs from Alex Haven and Kawehioaalani Sharpe.

With a quality lead, Hering hoped his pre-game gamble to have freshmen Lenya Wiley and Hailey Tyree pitch would pay off. The risk paid off as the two pitchers combined for six strikeouts and just two walks.

“They did well,” Hering said. “They came in, they threw well, they struggled a little bit, but when they need to, they came through and got important outs.”

He decided to start his freshmen in such a critical rivalry game because of the Titans’ games against Federal Way and Decatur.

For those, he wants his seasoned senior pitcher Haven completely rested. Wins in those two games almost certainly secure a playoff birth for Beamer.

With Haven stationed comfortably at first base, Hering’s two freshmen led the Titans through the rivalry series with Jefferson.

Up next, it’s Haven’s turn to get straight to the point and Beamer into the postseason.

“… We’ve got to save Alex’s arm for the playoffs,” Hering said. “I wanted her to watch the freshmen, not only to see how she can help them, but I wanted her to gain confidence that if we need them in the playoffs, they can get it done.”