- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,129,748
- Reaction score
- 59
SUGAR GROVE – The No. 5 seed Lancaster softball team was on a 15-game winning streak entering Thursday’s Central District Division I championship game against 10th-seeded Marysville. During that span, the Lady Gales found different ways to win to keep their win streak alive.
However, against the Monarchs, no one could have predicted how this one would turn out.
Trailing 6-0 in the top of the second inning, Lancaster steadily chipped its way back in it before it was able to deliver the knockout blow by scoring eight runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to overcome a three-run deficit. It enabled the Gales to outlast the Monarchs in a slugfest, and when the dust had settled, Lancaster came away with a 17-11 victory on May 21 at Berne Union High School, giving them their third consecutive district title.
More: Lancaster softball seniors reflect on their historic run and love of the program
More: Brown has etched her name on the Mount Rushmore of Lancaster softball
Lancaster (21-7), now winners of 16 consecutive wins, advances to the Sweet 16 against Lakewood at 5 p.m., May 27, at Olentangy High School.
The Lady Gales took the Monarchs’ best punch time and time again, but Marysville was unable to deliver the knockout punch, and when senior Kendall Brown hit a two-run home run, it seemed to settle things for the Gales and enable them to catch their breath. From there, they just kept chipping away until the big eight-run fifth inning, which was capped off by a Lana Prince grand slam.
The game featured a combined 28 hits – 14 by each team – five home runs and two grand slams, one by each team.
“All year, we have talked about grit and being able to rely on each other,” Brown said. “We never gave up and just kept chipping away, and then we were right back in it. I knew we needed to gain some momentum, and I went up there not trying to do too much. I just wanted to put a good swing on the ball, and it just happened to go out. We just needed something positive to happen.
“We did a great job of relying on each other, playing together, playing as a team, and using each other’s energy. Everyone contributed to this win.”
After Marysville took a 6-0 lead in its first two at-bats, which included a two-run home run in the first inning and a grand slam in the second, the Gales’ Mia Griggs hit a solo home run in the bottom of the second to get the Gales on the scoreboard. Lancaster cut the deficit to 6-3 on Brown’s home run in the third, but Marysville plated two more runs in the fourth inning to take an 8-3 lead.
The Gales added two runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth to cut the margin to 8-5. After not allowing a run in the top of the fifth, Lancaster was finally able to string hits together and take advantage of some walks, before Prince delivered the big blow with her grand slam. Lancaster added four insurance runs in the sixth, and the Monarchs scored a run in the seventh.
“I wasn’t going up there to hit a home run,” Prince said. “I really just wanted to do something for my team, and as soon as I hit it, I knew it was gone, and it felt amazing. I had so much adrenaline going around the bases, I don’t even remember it, to be honest.”
Not to be lost in the hit parade was the job sophomore pitcher Mackenzie Hedrick did in a relief of Kileight Rohr, who was roughed up for six runs and didn’t make it out of the second inning. Hedrick pitched five-plus innings, allowing eight hits and just two earned runs.
“That’s how she has been all year,” Brown said. “She has done an amazing job of coming in and doing that all year. As a sophomore, she has so much confidence and is so calm and collected. I have 100 percent trust in her.”
Brown, who hit her 13th home run of the season, led the Gales 14-hit attack by going 4-for-5. Alieya Garner had three hits and three RBIs, and Prince had three hits. Alleigh Chevelier had a key hit during the fifth-inning rally and finished with three RBIs.
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: Lancaster wins district title in a slugfest, extends win streak to 16 games
Continue reading...
However, against the Monarchs, no one could have predicted how this one would turn out.
Trailing 6-0 in the top of the second inning, Lancaster steadily chipped its way back in it before it was able to deliver the knockout blow by scoring eight runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to overcome a three-run deficit. It enabled the Gales to outlast the Monarchs in a slugfest, and when the dust had settled, Lancaster came away with a 17-11 victory on May 21 at Berne Union High School, giving them their third consecutive district title.
More: Lancaster softball seniors reflect on their historic run and love of the program
More: Brown has etched her name on the Mount Rushmore of Lancaster softball
You must be registered for see images attach
Lancaster (21-7), now winners of 16 consecutive wins, advances to the Sweet 16 against Lakewood at 5 p.m., May 27, at Olentangy High School.
The Lady Gales took the Monarchs’ best punch time and time again, but Marysville was unable to deliver the knockout punch, and when senior Kendall Brown hit a two-run home run, it seemed to settle things for the Gales and enable them to catch their breath. From there, they just kept chipping away until the big eight-run fifth inning, which was capped off by a Lana Prince grand slam.
The game featured a combined 28 hits – 14 by each team – five home runs and two grand slams, one by each team.
“All year, we have talked about grit and being able to rely on each other,” Brown said. “We never gave up and just kept chipping away, and then we were right back in it. I knew we needed to gain some momentum, and I went up there not trying to do too much. I just wanted to put a good swing on the ball, and it just happened to go out. We just needed something positive to happen.
“We did a great job of relying on each other, playing together, playing as a team, and using each other’s energy. Everyone contributed to this win.”
After Marysville took a 6-0 lead in its first two at-bats, which included a two-run home run in the first inning and a grand slam in the second, the Gales’ Mia Griggs hit a solo home run in the bottom of the second to get the Gales on the scoreboard. Lancaster cut the deficit to 6-3 on Brown’s home run in the third, but Marysville plated two more runs in the fourth inning to take an 8-3 lead.
You must be registered for see images attach
The Gales added two runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth to cut the margin to 8-5. After not allowing a run in the top of the fifth, Lancaster was finally able to string hits together and take advantage of some walks, before Prince delivered the big blow with her grand slam. Lancaster added four insurance runs in the sixth, and the Monarchs scored a run in the seventh.
“I wasn’t going up there to hit a home run,” Prince said. “I really just wanted to do something for my team, and as soon as I hit it, I knew it was gone, and it felt amazing. I had so much adrenaline going around the bases, I don’t even remember it, to be honest.”
Not to be lost in the hit parade was the job sophomore pitcher Mackenzie Hedrick did in a relief of Kileight Rohr, who was roughed up for six runs and didn’t make it out of the second inning. Hedrick pitched five-plus innings, allowing eight hits and just two earned runs.
“That’s how she has been all year,” Brown said. “She has done an amazing job of coming in and doing that all year. As a sophomore, she has so much confidence and is so calm and collected. I have 100 percent trust in her.”
Brown, who hit her 13th home run of the season, led the Gales 14-hit attack by going 4-for-5. Alieya Garner had three hits and three RBIs, and Prince had three hits. Alleigh Chevelier had a key hit during the fifth-inning rally and finished with three RBIs.
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: Lancaster wins district title in a slugfest, extends win streak to 16 games
Continue reading...
