varsity.roanoke.com

Failing to execute a coach's instructions in a high school playoff game usually does not yield positive results.

For Glenvar senior Julianna Caldwell, it was an A-plus.

Moments after whiffing on a bunt attempt with the tie-breaking run on third base in the sixth inning, Caldwell delivered an RBI groundout that gave Glenvar a 1-0 victory over Auburn in a Three Rivers District softball semifinal at Green Hill Park.

Caldwell slapped a one-out grounder into shallow right field off Auburn ace Heather Dindinger. She was thrown out at first base by Kayla Mitchell, but Glenvar's Kayla Dehart scored from third.

Highlanders coach Spike Harrison didn't get the bunt he wanted, but his team extended its season and eliminated Auburn in the process.

"He was calling a bunt, not a squeeze, but I didn't get it down," Caldwell. "He kind of got a little upset but then I got the run in."

The victory was Glenvar's third in three tries this year against Auburn. Not only did it move the Highlanders (14-5) into today's 5:30 p.m. championship game against regular-season champ Floyd County -- a 4-2 winner over Radford -- it earned them a trip to Bath County for a Region C quarterfinal Tuesday.

Glenvar, which will play in the regional for the 26th consecutive year, was the Group A runner-up in 2007 and 2008. However, getting out of the Three Rivers this year against the likes of Auburn and Floyd was no picnic.

"I'd say any one of the three of us could represent this district very well at the region and state level," Harrison said.

Dindinger, a James Madison signee, pitched a one-hitter and struck out seven for Auburn (15-6).

She walked Dehart to open the sixth, then the Glenvar leadoff hitter stole second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch to set up the game-winner by Caldwell.

Julie Helton, who relieved starter Brandy Bryant with two runners on and none out in the fifth, got the victory. She retired all nine batters she faced.

"Pressure makes me play better," Helton said. "If I'm not nervous, I don't play good."

Auburn also had runners on second and third with one out in the fourth. With Chelsie Kenley on third, a pitch by Bryant went to the screen, but the Auburn runner stayed put.

"If they wait for me to tell them, it'll be too late," Auburn coach David Hurd said. "It would have been close, but given my druthers, she would have gone."

Floyd (16-1) got a scare from Radford before Jessi Hall's RBI hit in the second inning put the Buffaloes ahead to stay at 3-2.

Sophomore Amber Ingram pitched a two-hitter for Floyd, which will host James River in a Region C first-round game. Hall finished with two hits, while pinch-hitter Katie Long drove in an insurance run in the sixth.

"I had high expectations for this team," Floyd coach Wes Starkey said. "We set a goal early in the year to make it to the final four this year."

Radford coach David Morris said Floyd has a shot.

"We have really picked it up in the last two weeks a whole lot, but they're a good team," Morris said. "They're going to go a long way, if not all the way."

Senior Sarah Donnelly gave up just six hits for Radford (11-9) and got two hits at the plate.

Starkey and assistant coach Joel Pratt will be absent from today's game. Ardena Pratt, who was Starkey's mother-in-law and Pratt's mother, died Wednesday and visitation services are scheduled for this evening.

Starkey said assistants Scott Thompson and Megan Funk, who was better known as Angela Tincher's catcher at James River High School, will be in charge of the team.

Radford 020 000 0 -- 2 2 2

Floyd County 210 010 x -- 4 5 2

Donnelly and Easter; Ingram and Roop. W Ingram (12-1). L Donnelly (3-6).

Auburn 000 000 0 -- 0 6 1

Glenvar 000 001 x -- 1 1 1

Dindinger and Whitlow; Bryant, Helton (5) and Caldwell. W Helton (4-2). L Dindinger (14-6).