No Quit: Fairfield Lady Lions rally for 3 runs in 7th to win in regional semifinals
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
LANCASTER — Down to not just their final out, but their final strike, the Fairfield Lady Lions were that close to having their season come to a close in the Division III Regional Semifinals against Ironton. The problem for their opponent was the Lady Lions weren’t ready to bow out of the postseason just yet.
Having two outs, down two runs and having a 2-2 count against them, No. 3 state-ranked Fairfield (24-1) apparently had No. 7 state-ranked Ironton exactly where they wanted them. Freshman Halle Hamilton — in an at-bat that lasted eight pitches — made contact, sending the ball on a bounce to third base, where Hamilton continued the race down the first base line for a base hit — and advancing on an errant throw — scoring base runners Hayleigh Lowe and Molly Thackston for the game-tying runs, as both of those runners reached the bases with two-out hits.
“We had numerous players step up when we needed them in the seventh, and I heard the coaches in the other dugout when Halle was running to first to ‘hurry up, she’s fast, she’s fast,’ and that was weighing on them, and they threw it wide. Halle is fast, and she didn’t stop until she got to third base,” Dettwiller said.
Hamilton ended up on third base following the infield error by Ironton, but the Lady Lions weren’t finished at the plate as senior Lyndee Spargur (2-for-4) reached the bases with a single just out of the infield to score Hamilton, pushing Fairfield ahead for good by the final 3-2 score, handing Ironton their second loss of the season.
Also in the top of the seventh, four of the first five batters had a 2-1 count in their trip to the plate.
“What I told them in the huddle before the top of the seventh was to lay off the rise ball, be disciplined at the plate. I said, ‘we haven’t quit yet, so let’s go score,’” Fairfield head coach Mark Dettwiller said. “That is the sign of a very mature ball team. I’m super proud of these girls. They worked their tails off and were very patient at the plate after the first three innings.
“We had to do what we had to do to score. We had a couple base-running issues, and we could have scored two earlier, but we didn’t. It is just a testimony to these kids of their intestinal fortitude to pull out this one, and they just went up to the plate in the bottom of the seventh to get the job done.”
Even in gaining the lead for the only time in the Sweet 16 contest, the game still wasn’t over as the defense and pitching had to slam the door shut in the bottom of the seventh inning, and that they did.
Fairfield senior pitcher Kaiti White wrapped the game up with 10 pitches in the final half-inning, with the Ironton leadoff batter in the seventh sending the ball on a straight liner to sophomore shortstop Layla Hattan, who recorded the first out, as that at-bat lasted three pitches.
Next was a three-pitch strikeout on a swinging third strike, and the final out came on the fourth pitch of the at-bat as White’s pitch landed in the mitt of senior catcher Lauren Arnold for a called third strike, sending Fairfield back to the regional final for the first time since 2017 in Division IV.
White finished the game earning her 24th win of the season, as she improved to 24-1 on the season. The senior ace pitcher pitched a complete seven innings, allowing two runs (both earned) on six hits (all singles) and no walks. She also finished the outing with eight strikeouts, striking out two batters in three different innings.
“It is kind of weird, but Kaiti gets stronger as the game goes on, and her mental toughness is unbelievable,” Dettwiller said. “She goes out there and does her work, she’s a workhorse and she takes care of business. After the early innings when they scored two runs, from the fourth inning on she kept them scoreless.”
Since the start of the district round, the Lady Lions have had comeback wins in all three games, rallying to defeat Wellston, 4-3 in the district semifinals and Wheelersburg by a 8-5 score after trailing in the latter stages of the district finals.
“It is amazing, they just don’t quit. The Wellston game was a big key to us in the tournament. When we beat them 4-3, I thought they had a very good pitcher, and I told them that,” Dettwiller said. “Then if you can get by Wheelersburg, you’ve done something, and of course Ironton is tough as nails.”
Fairfield didn’t get off to the fastest start in the regional semifinals, as their first hit didn’t come until the top of the fourth inning when Spargur hit a lead-off single — on a 1-2 count — over the head of the Ironton shortstop and into left field. Spargur raced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Megan Gragg and then went to third on a double off the bat of Hattan, as the ball was trapped between an Ironton player and the left field fence.
Both runners were left stranded on the bases following an out on a pop up in the next at-bat.
As for Ironton (26-2), the Lady Tigers had their two runs score in the second and third innings, and they threatened in the fourth, but the defense of the Lady Lions showcased their skills when they were needed at the most opportune time.
Following a leadoff single and a batter being safe on an error at first base, Ironton looked to be in prime position to add to their lead. That ended up not being the case with Fairfield converting a 5-4 double play as Thackston caught a ball hit to third base on a bunt, and with Hamilton covering the base, caught the throw for the second out. The inning ended with a ground out to second base to keep Ironton from adding more runs.
Neither team recorded a base runner in the fifth inning, with Spargur catching a hard-hit line drive for the third out of the inning.
Fairfield threatened to score their first runs of the game in the sixth inning with Hamilton hitting a lead-off double to the left field fence. But after two straight outs, White walked, and the threat ended on a fielder’s choice.
“At that point … a player’s nervous system can really take over, and if the coaching staff stays calm, that helps,” Dettwiller said. “I ask them all the time if they are having fun, and I tell them to have some fun. This is fun, and right before Halle hit the leadoff double, before she gained that hit, I looked down to her and said, ‘Hey kid, have some fun’ and she smiled. That’s the first time she’s smiled at me from the box all year.”
The Lady Lions’ defense struck again in a time of need in the bottom of the sixth, once again, keeping Ironton from adding to their lead. The Lady Tigers singled to left field to start the inning, but a 1-6-3 double play saw White field the ball to Hattan at second base, then Hattan threw the ball to Spargur at first base to complete the second double play by Fairfield in the game. The inning ended with a fly ball hit to centerfield.
That double play proved to be important as Fairfield next had their aforementioned seventh-inning rally to keep their season alive.
For the game, Fairfield finished with six hits. Having one hit each were Hattan, Lowe, Thackston and Hamilton, while Arnold was hit by a pitch and White drew a walk.
The Lady Lions will be facing Byesville Meadowbrook on Saturday, May 25 at Lancaster High School with a noon start. Meadowbrook defeated Sugarcreek Garaway on Wednesday in their regional semifinal game by a 14-9 score.
“I’m really looking forward to playing Meadowbrook. They beat us here last year by a 3-2 score (in the regional semifinals), and as a matter of fact, we scored two runs on them in the top of the seventh as we were down 3-0,” Dettwiller said. “Hopefully we can get to them quicker this year. They have the same pitcher as last year, and she’s a quality pitcher who changes speeds well. It should be another good game.”
Fairfield won their lone regional championship in 1982.
(Editor’s note: More photos will be added Thursday afternoon.)
Having two outs, down two runs and having a 2-2 count against them, No. 3 state-ranked Fairfield (24-1) apparently had No. 7 state-ranked Ironton exactly where they wanted them. Freshman Halle Hamilton — in an at-bat that lasted eight pitches — made contact, sending the ball on a bounce to third base, where Hamilton continued the race down the first base line for a base hit — and advancing on an errant throw — scoring base runners Hayleigh Lowe and Molly Thackston for the game-tying runs, as both of those runners reached the bases with two-out hits.
“We had numerous players step up when we needed them in the seventh, and I heard the coaches in the other dugout when Halle was running to first to ‘hurry up, she’s fast, she’s fast,’ and that was weighing on them, and they threw it wide. Halle is fast, and she didn’t stop until she got to third base,” Dettwiller said.
Hamilton ended up on third base following the infield error by Ironton, but the Lady Lions weren’t finished at the plate as senior Lyndee Spargur (2-for-4) reached the bases with a single just out of the infield to score Hamilton, pushing Fairfield ahead for good by the final 3-2 score, handing Ironton their second loss of the season.
Also in the top of the seventh, four of the first five batters had a 2-1 count in their trip to the plate.
“What I told them in the huddle before the top of the seventh was to lay off the rise ball, be disciplined at the plate. I said, ‘we haven’t quit yet, so let’s go score,’” Fairfield head coach Mark Dettwiller said. “That is the sign of a very mature ball team. I’m super proud of these girls. They worked their tails off and were very patient at the plate after the first three innings.
“We had to do what we had to do to score. We had a couple base-running issues, and we could have scored two earlier, but we didn’t. It is just a testimony to these kids of their intestinal fortitude to pull out this one, and they just went up to the plate in the bottom of the seventh to get the job done.”
Even in gaining the lead for the only time in the Sweet 16 contest, the game still wasn’t over as the defense and pitching had to slam the door shut in the bottom of the seventh inning, and that they did.
Fairfield senior pitcher Kaiti White wrapped the game up with 10 pitches in the final half-inning, with the Ironton leadoff batter in the seventh sending the ball on a straight liner to sophomore shortstop Layla Hattan, who recorded the first out, as that at-bat lasted three pitches.
Next was a three-pitch strikeout on a swinging third strike, and the final out came on the fourth pitch of the at-bat as White’s pitch landed in the mitt of senior catcher Lauren Arnold for a called third strike, sending Fairfield back to the regional final for the first time since 2017 in Division IV.
White finished the game earning her 24th win of the season, as she improved to 24-1 on the season. The senior ace pitcher pitched a complete seven innings, allowing two runs (both earned) on six hits (all singles) and no walks. She also finished the outing with eight strikeouts, striking out two batters in three different innings.
“It is kind of weird, but Kaiti gets stronger as the game goes on, and her mental toughness is unbelievable,” Dettwiller said. “She goes out there and does her work, she’s a workhorse and she takes care of business. After the early innings when they scored two runs, from the fourth inning on she kept them scoreless.”
Since the start of the district round, the Lady Lions have had comeback wins in all three games, rallying to defeat Wellston, 4-3 in the district semifinals and Wheelersburg by a 8-5 score after trailing in the latter stages of the district finals.
“It is amazing, they just don’t quit. The Wellston game was a big key to us in the tournament. When we beat them 4-3, I thought they had a very good pitcher, and I told them that,” Dettwiller said. “Then if you can get by Wheelersburg, you’ve done something, and of course Ironton is tough as nails.”
Fairfield didn’t get off to the fastest start in the regional semifinals, as their first hit didn’t come until the top of the fourth inning when Spargur hit a lead-off single — on a 1-2 count — over the head of the Ironton shortstop and into left field. Spargur raced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Megan Gragg and then went to third on a double off the bat of Hattan, as the ball was trapped between an Ironton player and the left field fence.
Both runners were left stranded on the bases following an out on a pop up in the next at-bat.
As for Ironton (26-2), the Lady Tigers had their two runs score in the second and third innings, and they threatened in the fourth, but the defense of the Lady Lions showcased their skills when they were needed at the most opportune time.
Following a leadoff single and a batter being safe on an error at first base, Ironton looked to be in prime position to add to their lead. That ended up not being the case with Fairfield converting a 5-4 double play as Thackston caught a ball hit to third base on a bunt, and with Hamilton covering the base, caught the throw for the second out. The inning ended with a ground out to second base to keep Ironton from adding more runs.
Neither team recorded a base runner in the fifth inning, with Spargur catching a hard-hit line drive for the third out of the inning.
Fairfield threatened to score their first runs of the game in the sixth inning with Hamilton hitting a lead-off double to the left field fence. But after two straight outs, White walked, and the threat ended on a fielder’s choice.
“At that point … a player’s nervous system can really take over, and if the coaching staff stays calm, that helps,” Dettwiller said. “I ask them all the time if they are having fun, and I tell them to have some fun. This is fun, and right before Halle hit the leadoff double, before she gained that hit, I looked down to her and said, ‘Hey kid, have some fun’ and she smiled. That’s the first time she’s smiled at me from the box all year.”
The Lady Lions’ defense struck again in a time of need in the bottom of the sixth, once again, keeping Ironton from adding to their lead. The Lady Tigers singled to left field to start the inning, but a 1-6-3 double play saw White field the ball to Hattan at second base, then Hattan threw the ball to Spargur at first base to complete the second double play by Fairfield in the game. The inning ended with a fly ball hit to centerfield.
That double play proved to be important as Fairfield next had their aforementioned seventh-inning rally to keep their season alive.
For the game, Fairfield finished with six hits. Having one hit each were Hattan, Lowe, Thackston and Hamilton, while Arnold was hit by a pitch and White drew a walk.
The Lady Lions will be facing Byesville Meadowbrook on Saturday, May 25 at Lancaster High School with a noon start. Meadowbrook defeated Sugarcreek Garaway on Wednesday in their regional semifinal game by a 14-9 score.
“I’m really looking forward to playing Meadowbrook. They beat us here last year by a 3-2 score (in the regional semifinals), and as a matter of fact, we scored two runs on them in the top of the seventh as we were down 3-0,” Dettwiller said. “Hopefully we can get to them quicker this year. They have the same pitcher as last year, and she’s a quality pitcher who changes speeds well. It should be another good game.”
Fairfield won their lone regional championship in 1982.
(Editor’s note: More photos will be added Thursday afternoon.)