By Robert Sisk

Published: May 8, 2008

Robert E. Lee jumped out to an early lead but Waynesboro held its own to stay in the game and take the lead right when it counted.
The Little Giants scored three runs in the sixth inning and held off the Lee Ladies in the top of the seventh to pick up a 7-6 win in their final Southern Valley District game of the season, while gaining some confidence before the district tournament.
“It was really exciting because we really wanted to beat Lee,” said Waynesboro’s Norah Curtis. “It was hard at the beginning but as soon as we picked up the bats and started hitting, I knew we could do it.”
Since Fort Defiance has clinched the district’s regular season title, the remaining teams are turning their focus on the Southern Valley tournament that begins on May 16 and the two additional Region III berths that are available.
“We finished the district on a positive note,” said Waynesboro coach Jason Aleshrie. “I feel more confident that we finished on a win.”
Making Wednesday’s game more important, the Lee Ladies and Little Giants may meet again during the district tournament with the final seed on the line.
“If our offense will show up like it has in the last couple of games, we can play with Fort Defiance and Stuarts Draft but it has to be proven,” said R.E. Lee coach Jim Hartman.
In the first inning the Lee ladies jumped out to a 3-0 lead with Alexis Scott, Holly Hartman and Alisha Taylor crossing the plate. The early lead nearly took the air out of the Little Giants, but a quick run in the bottom of the inning kept them in the game.
Curtis led off with a single and was brought home by a Heather Sutton double. The Little Giants were unable to get on the scoreboard again until the fourth inning.
“All year long we have started out slow,” Aleshire said.
Meanwhile, the Lee Ladies continued to hammer Waynesboro pitcher Brittany Siron, who was having an uncharacteristic night in the pitcher’s circle.
“Today was one of her off days,” Alshire said. “I think she walked more today than she has all year.”
In the top of the third the Lee Ladies made it 4-1 when Abbey Sarlino hit a RBI single to bring in Becca Stevens. In the top of the fourth Lee almost scored another run when Clara Myers was walked than stole second and advanced to third on a Kara Butler groundout.
With one out, Myers on third and Lee leadoff batter Stevens at the plate, the Little Giants had to stop Lee, and kill its momentum. Stevens hit a grounder to third baseman Courtney Painter. Painter checked the runner at third and made the force out at first.
Myers bolted on the throw to try and pick up the run, but Giants first baseman Felicia Allen was able to get the ball to catcher Sutton a step before Myers slid in for the out. The double play sparked the Little Giants back into the game.
In the bottom of the inning Sutton led off with a single down the right field line and moved to second on an infield single. Sutton pulled the Giants within two after Ashley Adkins hit a RBI single to right field. Waynesboro knotted up the game on a Siron two RBI double.
The Lee Ladies didn’t go down quietly scoring one run in each of the next two innings with Scott crossing the plate in the fifth and Hanna Truxell scoring in the sixth making the score 6-4.
In the bottom of the sixth Siron reached base on a walk and moved to second on a Lee wild pitch. Waynesboro came one step closer with a Painter RBI single and she later knotted the game back up when Curtis hit a RBI single.
“It all comes down to the confidence level,” Aleshire said. “Early in the game we were slow again but we picked up on the intensity.”
Tied at six with two outs the Little Giants Kayla Bartley was at the plate.  Bartley was having a bad day in the batter’s box going 0-for-3 in her previous appearances, but she made contact when it mattered most. The Waynesboro centerfielder hit a RBI single up the middle to bring in Painter and give the Little Giants the lead for good.
“If we play like we did at the end of the game tonight, I’m sure we can comeback and go further than we have before,” Curtis said. “It’s exciting that it is coming up and I’m ready for it to come.”
Waynesboro still has three non-district games remaining on its schedule, including its senior night tonight against Harrisonburg.