Clinton’s Senior Night Savior
Jacobik hits for cycle, grand slam walk-off
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Lady Dragons senior first baseman Lexie Jacobik swings on a pitch during Clinton’s 14-12 win over Campbell County on Senior night. - Conner McCarty
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Senior Lexie Jacobik looks towards the plate during the Lady Dragons 14-12 win over Campbell County. - Conner McCarty
Clinton Softball celebrated Senior Night against Campbell County last week, and those yearly pre-game festivities are always looked forward to.
However, nobody could have predicted the ending to the 2019 version of Clinton Softball Senior Night.
When she stepped into the batter’s box, senior first baseman Lexie Jacobik faced the situation that every ballplayer dreams about: bottom of the seventh, bases loaded, two outs, and down by two.
“As I was walking to the plate, I took a look at the scoreboard and when I saw that there was two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, for some reason I was at ease,” said Jacobik. “I didn’t feel any pressure. I just stepped up to bat and thought, this is what I do. This is what I trained for. Just take care of business.”
What happened next will forever go down in Clinton High School Softball history.
Jacobik swung on the first pitch of the at-bat, and drove it over the left field fence for a grand slam walk-off homerun.
The lefthander’s game-winning walk off would be her last memory on home turf, as the game would be Clinton’s last home bout of the season.
“It is such a heart-warming thing to think about, and that it was with this team, and the people surrounding me. It is just an amazing last memory that I will be able to hold close to my heart forever,” said Jacobik.
Also, Jacobik’s game-winner was not her lone achievement of the ballgame.
With her walk-off grand-slam, the lefthander hit for eight RBI’s and the cycle against the Lady Cougars.
On Senior Night, the Lady Dragons trailed 1-0 as they came to the plate in the home half of the first inning.
After Emma Clevenger was hit by a pitch and Sophie Seivers reached on a walk, Jacobik made her first plate appearance of the night.
The lefty smoked a fly ball to the center field fence for a base-clearing two-RBI-double, and Clinton took a 2-1 lead.
After senior Sara Hammitt, the ensuing batter, reached on an error, senior Annabelle Jackson came to the dish. Jackson ripped an RBI-single back up the middle to score Jacobik, and advanced Hammitt to third.
During the next at-bat, on a wild pitch, Hammit would steal home, slide just under the tag of the Lady Cougars catcher, and Clinton led 4-1 heading into the second inning.
In the bottom of the second, Jacobik delivered again for Clinton.
With Sarah Burton and Clevenger on, the senior would hit a hard grounder to second, and reach on an error for a two-RBI-single, which drove in both baserunners.
Heading into the top of the sixth inning, the Lady Dragons had pulled out to a commanding 10-2 lead over Campbell County.
However, the Lady Cougars would counter and cut into Clinton’s lead, with a massive rally.
With the lead cut down to just one run and the bases loaded, the Lady Dragons made their second pitching change of the inning.
Yet, the ensuing Campbell County hitter singled to tie the game, 10-10, with only one out.Two batters and two outs later, the Lady Cougars looked to spoil Clinton’s senior night, as they took a 12-10 lead into the bottom half of the sixth inning.
Campbell County held defensively, and returned to the plate.
The Clinton defense forced Campbell County to go three up, three down.
Down to their last three outs, and down by two on the scoreboard, Clinton loaded the bases.
The rest is history.