10th inning leads to McClain advancing in postseason
Lead Summary
By
The Highland County Press-
McClain's Division II SE District sectional final win took three innings longer than usual, but the goal was achieved. MHS scored two runs in the top of the 10th and were able to fend off New Lexington in the bottom half of the inning to win by a 5-4 score to advance to the district semifinals.
The two runs in the 10th inning came following a physical and tough game played by both teams, but MHS still had the last bit of energy needed to cross the plate twice in the extra frame.
"This was an up-and-down game full of emotions," MHS head coach Jarrod Haines said. "Credit our kids, they came up big when we needed them to."
MHS, a No. 5 seed, reached the bases in the top of the 10th with a one-out walk by Alli Willett on five pitches, followed by a sacrifice bunt by Cierra Landrum, moving Willett to second with two outs. Shania Massie followed by sending the ball to left field with a triple, hitting the second pitch of the at-bat, scoring Willett.
Sarah Thompson followed with a base hit to right-centerfield for the two-run lead, allowing Massie to score from third.[[In-content Ad]]
"Shania and Sarah sealed the deal with huge hits in the 10th," Haines said. "We could have quit, but we didn't. We just kept battling, and I'm so proud of the girls."
No. 4 seeded New Lexington answered by scoring a run with no outs in the bottom of the 10th, but the pitching of Landrum and the Lady Tiger defense slammed the door on a potential 11th inning, as the senior struck out the ensuing batter on five pitches, followed by two ground outs to the shortstop to end the game.
As for the rest of McClain's scoring, Willett scored the first run of the game in the top of the first inning, as she led off the game by taking first after being hit by a pitch. With one out, Massie tripled to right-centerfield, scoring Willett.
In the top of the seventh, the visiting Lady Tigers added two runs with Katy Unger and Anna Ehlers rounding the bases. Unger singled to reach the bases, and Ehlers took first on a fielder's choice. Both runners scored on a two-out single to right field by Landrum, hitting the third pitch of the at-bat.
"Cierra had the biggest hit of her career in the seventh," Haines said.
New Lexington scored two runs in the first and one run in the seventh before their 10th-inning run.
"Two errors in the first inning really hit us (MHS had six errors in the game)," Haines said. "Though we had the errors, those same kids came back and made big plays later in the game."
MHS totaled eight hits with Massie and Caitlyn Lovett each gaining two. Landrum, Thompson, Morgan Dettwiller and Unger each had one hit. Willett and Landrum each forced a walk.
Landrum was the winning pitcher. The senior allowed four runs (one earned) on 11 hits and one walk. She finished with 10 strikeouts and threw 139 pitches, 98 for strikes.
"Cierra refused to go away," Haines said. "She threw an incredible game."
MHS will play in the district semifinals on Tuesday as they travel to Northwest High School to face Warren at 4:30 p.m. No. 1 seeded Warren (17-3) defeated Marietta (No. 8 seed) by a 10-0 score on Saturday.
The two runs in the 10th inning came following a physical and tough game played by both teams, but MHS still had the last bit of energy needed to cross the plate twice in the extra frame.
"This was an up-and-down game full of emotions," MHS head coach Jarrod Haines said. "Credit our kids, they came up big when we needed them to."
MHS, a No. 5 seed, reached the bases in the top of the 10th with a one-out walk by Alli Willett on five pitches, followed by a sacrifice bunt by Cierra Landrum, moving Willett to second with two outs. Shania Massie followed by sending the ball to left field with a triple, hitting the second pitch of the at-bat, scoring Willett.
Sarah Thompson followed with a base hit to right-centerfield for the two-run lead, allowing Massie to score from third.[[In-content Ad]]
"Shania and Sarah sealed the deal with huge hits in the 10th," Haines said. "We could have quit, but we didn't. We just kept battling, and I'm so proud of the girls."
No. 4 seeded New Lexington answered by scoring a run with no outs in the bottom of the 10th, but the pitching of Landrum and the Lady Tiger defense slammed the door on a potential 11th inning, as the senior struck out the ensuing batter on five pitches, followed by two ground outs to the shortstop to end the game.
As for the rest of McClain's scoring, Willett scored the first run of the game in the top of the first inning, as she led off the game by taking first after being hit by a pitch. With one out, Massie tripled to right-centerfield, scoring Willett.
In the top of the seventh, the visiting Lady Tigers added two runs with Katy Unger and Anna Ehlers rounding the bases. Unger singled to reach the bases, and Ehlers took first on a fielder's choice. Both runners scored on a two-out single to right field by Landrum, hitting the third pitch of the at-bat.
"Cierra had the biggest hit of her career in the seventh," Haines said.
New Lexington scored two runs in the first and one run in the seventh before their 10th-inning run.
"Two errors in the first inning really hit us (MHS had six errors in the game)," Haines said. "Though we had the errors, those same kids came back and made big plays later in the game."
MHS totaled eight hits with Massie and Caitlyn Lovett each gaining two. Landrum, Thompson, Morgan Dettwiller and Unger each had one hit. Willett and Landrum each forced a walk.
Landrum was the winning pitcher. The senior allowed four runs (one earned) on 11 hits and one walk. She finished with 10 strikeouts and threw 139 pitches, 98 for strikes.
"Cierra refused to go away," Haines said. "She threw an incredible game."
MHS will play in the district semifinals on Tuesday as they travel to Northwest High School to face Warren at 4:30 p.m. No. 1 seeded Warren (17-3) defeated Marietta (No. 8 seed) by a 10-0 score on Saturday.