Ege needed just 63 pitches in the last five innings, when she didn’t give up a hit, walked just one and retired 15 of the 16 hitters she faced.
The Trojanettes finally staked Ege to a lead in the fourth, then exploded in the fifth and sixth innings for an 11-1 win as No. 2. Troy qualified for the state championship game for the second time in three years.
And if Ege (28-3) pitches like she did in the final five innings against the No. 1-ranked Bulldogettes (31-7), the Trojanettes (34-3) have a very good chance of claiming their first state title since 2000.
Ege struggled early - five of her first seven pitches were balls, and the leadoff walk she gave up to Krista Kerby proved costly as she scored on a two-out single by Janice Gonzales. But as it turned out, it was the last Bulldogette hit.
“I just told myself to forget about it, pick it up and my team is behind me,” Ege said. “I told myself to pick it up.”
If nerves played any part in Ege’s first-inning woes, Troy coach Bobby Cervenka said that’s normal.
“I saw some other pitchers today who were real jittery,” Cervenka said. “She was kind of pumped and got into a groove there. It’s just emotions and all.”
Ege’s changeup was a big reason for her success. The senior pitcher - who was in the circle when the Trojanettes lost to Elysian Fields in the 2005 title game - recorded three of her nine strikeouts with the change. She also was throwing it early in the count with much success.
“It was pretty good; it was working well,” Ege said. “If it works anytime, I think now should be the time. And it is.”
Cervenka was impressed with the offspeed pitch as well.
“That was the plan coming in,” Cervenka said. “To keep them off balance, that was part of our strategy.”
Ege recorded her fourth win in her last five starts against a top-ranked team in the state. In a Region IV semifinal series, the Trojanettes swept then-No. 1 Poth. Troy then took two of three from Weimar, which had moved to No. 1 to replace the Pirettes. Coahoma in turn had replaced the Ladycats, allowing Ege and the Trojanettes to complete the trifecta of toppling No. 1 teams.
“She took it up a notch,” Cervenka said. “If you look at the last four games, 28 innings, just two earned runs. What else can you ask for?”
