Published: October 09, 2008 11:24 pm         

Pacers eliminated by PC-North

Enid pitcher Justine Kodesh, subbing for an injured Alex Jones, showed plenty of heart in the losers bracket of the Class 6A regional softball tournament at Pacer Park Thursday.

That couldn’t make up for a lack of run support.

Putnam City North upset the No. 4-ranked Pacers 3-1 with two runs in the ninth inning to end Enid’s season with a 28-8 record.

Muskogee won the championship by beating the Lady Panthers 7-4 in the second title game, after losing the first game 6-5.

“We had a great season,’’ said Enid coach Lee Linsenmeyer, “but sometimes things happen that are out of your control. We have nothing to be ashamed about or to hang our heads about. For whatever reason, it wasn’t our time.’’

Kodesh battled with tenacity to keep her team in the game. For the first eight innings, the Lady Panthers had eight runners reach third, only one who scored. She struck out seven.

The ninth, though, would be to Enid’s undoing.

Chelsie Roberts led off with a double. Kayla Kingsley followed with a single and stole second.

With one out, Ali Whittington singled off Kodesh’s glove. Enid infielders Kaleena Castor and Jessica Kodesh weren’t able to get the ball in time to get Roberts at home.

Brianna Goodner’s ground out to Kodesh scored Kinglsey with an insurance run.

“She did her job,’’ said Linsenmeyer of Justine Kodesh. “She did everything we asked her to do. She pitched well enough to win. She got us ground balls ... this is a tough one to lose.’’

The Pacers had seven hits off Putnam City North ace Lauren Poole, but couldn’t sustain any consistent rally.

Kodesh, who scored Enid’s lone run in the fourth, was the only Pacer runner to reach third. Kodesh had tripled in the fourth and scored on a sacrifice by Hayley Hudson.

Enid had a possible rally going in the sixth when Chantel Bay and Ty Washington reached on errors. Kodesh popped up a bunt and Washington was doubled off first.

The Pacers had four runners left on second.

“For whatever reason, we didn’t step up and do the things we needed to do,’’ Linsenmeyer said. “We didn’t make the routine plays. I don’t know how many bunts we missed where we could have scored.’’

The Pacers had entered the tournament ranked No. 4, but lost two extra-inning games in the regionals.

“That killer instinct that we had kind of disappeared a little bit over the last two days,’’ Linsenmeyer said. “I don’t know if we were trying too hard or we were distracted by being at home. We have to learn from this and go on.’’

Kodesh had gotten out of a jam in the eighth when the Lady Panthers had runners on second and third and no outs.

Jones, the left fielder, dropped a fly by Lindsay Davis, but threw out pinch-runner Linnea Hammack trying to score. Bailey Adams grounded out and Poole popped up to end the inning.

Putnam City North’s other run came in the third when Kinglsey walked, went to third on a double by Emily Lodes and scored on an error. Kodesh struck out Davis with the bases loaded to stop the bleeding.

The Pacers will lose the Kodeshs, Jones, Jessica Gulick and Mary Patocka from the 2008 team to graduation. The latter three had been with Linsenmeyer for five years, the first when he was the junior high coach.

“They have given a lot to this program,’’ Linsenmeyer said. “They have really worked hard for me. They will be missed.’’

The Pacers’ 28 wins were the fourth most in school history. However, EHS failed to make the regional finals for the first time since 2004.

“Hopefully, our young girls will know what it feels like and they won’t want this to happen again,’’ Linsenmeyer said. “I told them only one team ends the season without losing its last game. They will need to keep their heads up and work harder to get it done next year.’’

PC NORTH 6, MUSKOGEE 5

The Lady Panthers took advantage of five Roughette errors to force a second title game. Emily Emberson hit a three-run homer for Muskogee.

MUSKOGEE 7, PC NORTH 4

Winning pitcher Lacie Burch scored two runs and had an RBI triple as the Roughettes advanced to the state tournament with a 22-12 record. Muskogee scored two in the first and third and three times in the second.

“It’s a great honor for us,’’ said Muskogee coach Mack Chambers.