Eufaula’s Tyler shines in all-star debut

By Andy Brown

Published: July 1, 2008

Troy’s hitters likely didn’t know what to expect Saturday night when Eufaula right-hander Emma Tyler stepped into the pitcher’s circle.

Eufaula Angels head coach Eddie Thomas did.

“Emma is a good pitcher, and we knew that she would go out there and give it everything she had,” Eddie Thomas said.

She was better than good on Saturday night.

In her first appearance in the pitcher’s circle in an all-star game, Tyler allowed just one hit and two unearned runs, while striking out 11 batters in five innings of work to help lead Eufaula to a 7-2 win against Troy in an elimination game at the Sub-District 2 tournament in Dothan.

“We’d never had to put Emma in that position before, but she pitched a great game,” Eddie Thomas said.

The win came just one day after losing 2-1 to the Dothan National in eight innings and set up a rematch between the teams.

“We feel real good about our chances,” Eddie Thomas said. “We played them close in the first game. It was 1-1 for 7 ½ innings and we had chances to win it.
There’s no reason we can’t go out and beat them.”

Eufaula and the Dothan National squared off Monday night. Results were not available at press time, but will be published in Friday’s Eufaula Tribune.

In the teams’ first meeting, Laura Turchiano and Ilyssa Easton combined to allow just two runs. Turchiano, who started the game in the pitcher’s circle, struck out seven in five innings of work. Easton fanned four in three-inning of relief work.

“They both pitched well,” Eddie Thomas said. “We weren’t counting on burning them both in that game, but we wanted to win it, so we went ahead and used them and came back with Emma on Saturday.”

Easton had a hit and scored Eufaula’s only run in the loss.

Abby Thomas had an RBI in the loss and Carly Whitehead, Murray Margaret Price, Emily Wurst, Tyler and Turchiano each collected a hit for Eufaula.

“We got a few hits against Dothan, but we just couldn’t get much going,” Eddie Thomas said. “Against Troy, our bats came alive some. Hopefully that will carry over into our game with Dothan.”

Whitehead had a hit and two RBI in the win against Troy, while Easton and Tyler each had a hit. Price and Bree Harris both drove in a run.

Harris also scored two runs and Easton, Tyler, Abby Thomas, Shelley Beaty and Jazzlyn Purswell all scored a run.