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LEWIS CENTER – For the second tournament game in a row, the Lancaster softball team fell behind, but there was never any panic.
The Lady Gales fell behind 6-0 in their district championship win before rallying, and on Thursday, May 28, they trailed 1-0 against Lakewood in a Division I regional semifinal. This task wasn't as monumental as the district final game, but still, Lancaster was able to stay the course against the Lancers.
The Gales took advantage of an error in the fourth inning and made Lakewood pay the price by scoring four runs with two outs, and that would be more than enough in a 5-1 victory at Olentangy High School.
More: Ryleigh Brown hits walk-off grand slam for Liberty Union, tournament roundup
In the process, the Gales (22-7) won their 17th consecutive game and will play for a berth in the state tournament against Grove City at 5 p.m., May 29, back at Olentangy. The Greyhounds outlasted Cincinnati Oak Hills, winning 5-4 in 18 innings.
The win was a milestone for Lancaster’s six seniors because it was the 100th win in their four-year careers.
“We have played a lot of tough games this season, and we have been in a lot of situations where the pressure overcame us,” Lancaster coach Allie Kinniard said. “A lot of things we talked about were being prepared in May, so when we feel the pressure, we don’t crack. The last two games, we haven’t felt pressure, and we haven’t cracked and stayed cool, calm, and collected because we have been in this position multiple times this season.”
Lancaster was able to get outstanding pitching from senior Kileigh Rohr and sophomore Mackenzie Hedrick, and the Gales’ defense, led by senior shortstop Hailey Rings, made plays all over the field. Rohr pitched five innings, gave up one run on two hits, and Hedrick pitched the final two innings, not allowing a run and giving up one hit.
The Lancers took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning when Riley Williams hit a solo home run. Jaycie Montie and Averie Adams had the other two hits for the Lancers (18-12).
The Gales responded in their half of the fourth inning. After a strikeout, Kendall Brown, who led the Gales with two hits, had a single, and Mia Griggs worked a walk. After another strikeout, it looked as if the Lancers might get out of the inning unscathed, but a fielding error kept the inning alive, and the Gales took advantage as one run scored on the error. Alieya Garner then had an RBI single, and JoJo Sheets hit a two-run single to give the Gales a 4-1 lead.
“We are a team that is not going to get down on ourselves if we fall behind,” Rings said. “We are a team that likes to fight back and have those two-out rallies. We were down 6-0 in our last game, but we never gave up. We kept fighting, gained momentum, and pushed ourselves to that win, and that was something that carried us into this game as well.”
Lancaster added an insurance run in the sixth inning when Hannah Smith led off with a double and was able to score on an error.
Lakewood freshman Allie Stimmel gave up five runs, but none were earned. The Gales managed to get seven hits off her, and she finished with seven strikeouts.
Even though Lancaster lost a talented senior class from a team that reached the state tournament for the first time in school history a year ago, and started the season with a 5-6 record, they are leaning on their senior leadership.
“People counted us out at the start because we didn’t have a great record at the start of the season, because we played a lot of tough teams in Florida,” Kinniard said. “I think a lot of people talked about us losing seven seniors, but what they didn’t realize is that we returned six seniors who have all been on this team since they were freshmen. They have tons of leadership and experience in the postseason, and I think it is helping us right now.”
Tom Wilson is a sports reporter for the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. Contact him at 740-689-5150 or via email at [email protected] for comments or story tips. Follow him on X at twil2323.
This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Lady Gales one win away from return trip to the state tournament
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The Lady Gales fell behind 6-0 in their district championship win before rallying, and on Thursday, May 28, they trailed 1-0 against Lakewood in a Division I regional semifinal. This task wasn't as monumental as the district final game, but still, Lancaster was able to stay the course against the Lancers.
The Gales took advantage of an error in the fourth inning and made Lakewood pay the price by scoring four runs with two outs, and that would be more than enough in a 5-1 victory at Olentangy High School.
More: Ryleigh Brown hits walk-off grand slam for Liberty Union, tournament roundup
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In the process, the Gales (22-7) won their 17th consecutive game and will play for a berth in the state tournament against Grove City at 5 p.m., May 29, back at Olentangy. The Greyhounds outlasted Cincinnati Oak Hills, winning 5-4 in 18 innings.
The win was a milestone for Lancaster’s six seniors because it was the 100th win in their four-year careers.
“We have played a lot of tough games this season, and we have been in a lot of situations where the pressure overcame us,” Lancaster coach Allie Kinniard said. “A lot of things we talked about were being prepared in May, so when we feel the pressure, we don’t crack. The last two games, we haven’t felt pressure, and we haven’t cracked and stayed cool, calm, and collected because we have been in this position multiple times this season.”
Lancaster was able to get outstanding pitching from senior Kileigh Rohr and sophomore Mackenzie Hedrick, and the Gales’ defense, led by senior shortstop Hailey Rings, made plays all over the field. Rohr pitched five innings, gave up one run on two hits, and Hedrick pitched the final two innings, not allowing a run and giving up one hit.
The Lancers took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning when Riley Williams hit a solo home run. Jaycie Montie and Averie Adams had the other two hits for the Lancers (18-12).
You must be registered for see images attach
The Gales responded in their half of the fourth inning. After a strikeout, Kendall Brown, who led the Gales with two hits, had a single, and Mia Griggs worked a walk. After another strikeout, it looked as if the Lancers might get out of the inning unscathed, but a fielding error kept the inning alive, and the Gales took advantage as one run scored on the error. Alieya Garner then had an RBI single, and JoJo Sheets hit a two-run single to give the Gales a 4-1 lead.
“We are a team that is not going to get down on ourselves if we fall behind,” Rings said. “We are a team that likes to fight back and have those two-out rallies. We were down 6-0 in our last game, but we never gave up. We kept fighting, gained momentum, and pushed ourselves to that win, and that was something that carried us into this game as well.”
Lancaster added an insurance run in the sixth inning when Hannah Smith led off with a double and was able to score on an error.
Lakewood freshman Allie Stimmel gave up five runs, but none were earned. The Gales managed to get seven hits off her, and she finished with seven strikeouts.
Even though Lancaster lost a talented senior class from a team that reached the state tournament for the first time in school history a year ago, and started the season with a 5-6 record, they are leaning on their senior leadership.
“People counted us out at the start because we didn’t have a great record at the start of the season, because we played a lot of tough teams in Florida,” Kinniard said. “I think a lot of people talked about us losing seven seniors, but what they didn’t realize is that we returned six seniors who have all been on this team since they were freshmen. They have tons of leadership and experience in the postseason, and I think it is helping us right now.”
Tom Wilson is a sports reporter for the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. Contact him at 740-689-5150 or via email at [email protected] for comments or story tips. Follow him on X at twil2323.
This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Lady Gales one win away from return trip to the state tournament
Continue reading...
