Entering the seventh inning, the Decatur High School softball team might have been a little disappointed that they couldn’t push a run across in the sixth inning to end the game a little early. But when the final out was recorded, there was a sigh of relief as they avoided a near disaster.

Decatur survived against a late Thomas Jefferson High School flood of runs in the top of the seventh — and downed the Raiders 11-8 on April 9 at home. The Raiders scored six runs in the top of the seventh and had the tying run on deck.

It was just the fourth game Decatur has played all season, while the Raiders have now played eight. For coach Sydney Kozorezov, she wanted to see her batters take risks at the plate and have no fear of a bad result.

“It was important for the girls to know it was OK to swing at different pitches and test the waters. It is important to test their fielders and not making it to where we are giving them easy outs,” Kozorezov said.

The Gators led 11-2 heading into the seventh inning, but apart from a 7-run fifth inning for Decatur, the two sides were in a close contest. The Gators struck first in the bottom of the opening frame, capitalizing on a pair of Thomas Jefferson errors.

In the Raider half of the second, they responded with a run of their own, after Audrey Deviney walked three batters. Decatur took the lead again in the second with three runs. Samantha Hackney doubled home two runs to help Decatur take a 4-1 lead after two innings.

Deviney continued to struggle for the Gators as she walked four batters in the third and totaled nine walks in her four innings of work while allowing just a single hit.

In the top of the fifth, Deviney got that run back as she smashed a solo homer leading off the fifth inning. That kick-started a 10-batter inning for the Gators, who had six hits and seven runs come across to score.

Raider right-hander Delany Merritt threw all seven innings and gave up 10 hits, but only two of the 11 runs were earned.

Luci Pech had a very solid day in the box against Thomas Jefferson. She went 3-4, scored three times and had one run batted in. As the leadoff hitter and tone setter, Pech can get the Gators to the playoffs with her offensive productivity.

“She can set the point for our game. Offensively she can be a great starter for us, and we are going to continue to see her succeed there,” Kozorezov said.

Lolah Camarillo-Kontos took over in the circle for the Gators in the fifth inning. After a leadoff walk, Camarillo-Kontos retired six Raider hitters in a row before a nightmarish seventh inning. But when all was said and done, Kozorezov couldn’t have been happier.

“She did great. In the beginning of the season she was getting all the jitters out. I think she has gotten very comfortable having the team behind her. The team chemistry has really built up. I think she was comfortable trusting her fielders,” Kozorezov said.

The Raiders found a way to rally in the seventh inning. The Raiders knew they were going to find some offense after Delaney Merritt led off the inning with a walk and Lyla Smith followed that up with a double. In total, the Raiders sent 10 batters to the plate, tallied six runs, five hits, three doubles and almost completed the comeback.

Deviney left the game with a little arm soreness and senior third baseman Kaihea Sharpe also appeared to be in some discomfort after recording the final out of the game. Those are two pivotal players in the success of the Gators this season and in years past. If they miss time, there is an opportunity for young players to take advantage of.

“With grades, injuries and sickness, we always need girls ready to go. I think that opportunity will give them a lot of anticipation that they will be able to be on the field. That just also means they need to work hard on and off the field,” Kozorezov said.

Delaney Merritt pitched all six innings for the Raiders against Decatur. Ben Ray / The Mirror

Luci Pech and Valentina Cruz-Castro smile after catching a pop fly. Ben Ray / The Mirror