Newton Citizen

COVINGTON -- A senior night opponent is usually considered an easy win. While the Lady Eagles won their final game of the season, it wasn't against a pushover.

The Lady Eagles took the game against St. Pius, the No. 1 seed from Region 5A-AAA on Wednesday.

"We scheduled St. Pius because they're normally a state contender. We wanted them at the end to hopefully catapult us into the playoffs," Eastside head coach Jason Stokes said. "Win or lose, we wanted to see a good opponent going into the region tournament."

Eastside enters the Region 4-AAA tournament on Monday at Jackson as the No. 3 seed. The Lady Eagles start their bid toward winning a region tournament at 4:30 p.m. at the Bob Ryan Softball Complex.

The Lady Eagles had a hard time getting started but once they did they got on a roll. Even though they had runners on base in the first and second inning, it wasn't until the third when they got their first hit, a double by senior Bianca Reed.

Reed also scored the first run of the game off a sacrifice fly by senior pitcher Taylor Causey.

Causey helped herself again in the fifth inning with an RBI single to plate senior catcher Amanda Hawkins.

While the Lady Eagles were able to get the timing on the Lady Golden Lions pitching, St. Pius was unable to do the same as they had four hits against Causey.

While Causey finished the game with striking out four batters and three walks, it didn't start that way. In the top of the second, Causey loaded the bases walking three batters however, the Eastside defense, including senior Emily Almand, prevented any runs from scoring.

While Stokes acknowledges that it was a good feeling to get the win, having Causey back to start the region tournament is even better.

"She's pitched very well since she got back. She's pitched six or seven games now. The team is playing better. When she wasn't in, we hit a huge bump in the road," Stokes said. "It seems like everyone is fueled by her. Since she's been back they feel like they could win any game no matter what the deal is. Her pitching has changed the whole chemistry of the team."

St. Pius almost ruined the shutout in the top of the seventh inning as Jordyn Portis was rounding second with two outs on a line drive by Rebecca Ponce de Leon. But a diving catch by Reed ended the threat leaving St. Pius without a run.