Sunday, the Portland Cascade put a stop to the Chicago Bandits’ record-setting nine-game winning streak by defeating them 5-4. In the third inning, the Bandits put up great offense and scored three runs that included a Jocelyn Erickson two-run home run.
It appeared that Chicago was about to take control of the game. That is when Cascade head coach Tairia Flowers went to Payton Gottshall, who got the start on Saturday and threw 3.0 innings, allowing 1 run.
“She’s done such a good job of coming into games, her tempo, her energy,” Flowers said after Saturday’s game. “She just always does a good job with our defense, keeping them in the game and switching the energy for us.”
In Sunday’s game, the former Lady Vols righty answered the call. Portland needed a stopper, and after she entered, the Bandits did not score another run. Gottshall finished the day with 4.1 innings, no runs on 3 hits, with 3 strikeouts and 1 walk.
“She’s just a straight competitor,” Flowers said after Sunday’s game. “She knows her stuff is good. She knows how to attack the zone. She has so much energy and connects with her defense. I think that’s what makes her good is she just brings people along with her. And she’s ready to play.”
Gottshall has never shied away from the moment, a point Flowers mentioned, and a point Gottshall proved in Sunday’s game.
“She loves the game and loves the big moment,” Flowers said. “So, that’s why she’s good. And you saw her out there, the game didn’t faze her. A couple misses here and there, you’re not going to give it to me? Perfect. I’ll keep going down in the zone. I’ll keep coming at you. And she was ready to go.”
Gottshall’s performance rolled through seamlessly until the Bandits made the top of the seventh quite challenging. Clinging to a one-run lead, Gottshall faced a Bandits two-out push. After back-to-back singles from Sami Williams and Mac Barbara, Gottshall lost Morgan Zerkle on a five-pitch walk to load the bases.
The inning had a lot going on; it also featured the ejection of Bandits head coach Shonda Stanton for arguing a call. The events and magnification of the moment would have been enough to rattle some. Other coaches may have felt the need to rescue their pitcher, but the staff trusted her to finish. Gottshall remained cool, induced a groundout, and completed the job.
