McClain completes stunning comeback in sectionals against Lynchburg-Clay
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
GREENFIELD — The McClain Lady Tigers were three outs away from not only losing at their home park, but three outs away from seeing their season end in a run-rule loss in the Division III SE District Sectional Semifinals.
Trailing by a 16-2 score to Highland County counterpart Lynchburg-Clay before the bottom of the fifth inning began, the Lady Tigers needed five runs to keep the game going.
McClain did that and more with a nine-run fifth, and eventually battled their way with a patient approach at the plate to overcome what was a 14-run deficit to win by a 18-17 score Tuesday night at Daryle C. Unger Field.
"With this group, I will never count them out," MHS head coach Ed Bolender said. "I told them after the third inning we haven't quit all year, and we need a big inning. The girls answered and completed the comeback.
"I've been coaching baseball and softball here for 17 years, and I've never seen or been a part of something like this. Credit Lynchburg-Clay also … they hit line drive after line drive for the first three innings.
"In the third, we started our second round in the lineup and we started hitting the ball. I'm stunned."
The difference of the game began in the bottom of the fifth for the Lady Tigers with Shania Massie taking to the bases on an infield error, followed by a single by fellow senior Sarah Thompson and a walk by Kelcey Smith.
The bases were loaded for MHS with no outs, and that's when the rally really began.
Madison Schumacher singled to score Massie from third, and Kenzie Anderson singled to right field to score Thompson. Valerie Caldwell followed with a base hit of her own to left field to plate Smith, cutting the Lady Mustangs' lead to 16-8. Caldwell ended the game 3-for-5.
After a pitching change for LC, Chantel Landrum reached first on a fielder's choice, gaining the RBI when Schumacher crossed home plate.
Following the first out of the inning, Savannah Anderson was hit by a pitch to bring home Kenzie Anderson as the bases were still loaded. Massie drew an RBI walk to score Caldwell, and Thompson brought home Landrum with another walk. Thompson was 2-for-3 with three runs and four RBIs.
The score continued to get closer with Smith singling to right field for two more Lady Tiger runs with Massie and Thompson scoring their second runs of the inning. Smith eventually scored on an RBI walk by Kenzie Anderson to make the deficit go from 14 runs at the start of the inning to three as the score was now 16-13.
Smith finished the game with six RBIs, going 3-for-4 with two runs.
In the top of the sixth, LC added one last run to their totals with McKayla Binkley crossing home plate.
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LC's lead went away for good in the bottom of the sixth as the Lady Tigers added five runs to their totals to take a one-run lead. Scoring runs in the sixth were Landrum, Sydney Barton, Savannah Anderson, Massie and Thompson. Barton was 3-for-4 on the night.
McClain closed out the top of the seventh with three straight outs, with starting pitcher Abby Shrout forcing two fly balls to center field (including a diving catch by Caldwell) and the final out coming via pop up to Shrout by the pitching circle.
What can't be overlooked are the very good first four innings by the Lady Mustangs as they scored 16 of their 17 runs in those innings, including three home runs in the process.
The first inning saw the Lady Mustangs begin with a single by Madysyn Creighton, followed by a walk by Hannah Binkley. Chelsi Hacker sent the ball over the centerfield fence for a three-run home run with no outs to put LC up 3-0.
Creighton finished 2-for-5 with four RBIs and three runs. Hacker finished the game with five RBIs.
After the first out was recorded, Brittany Allen also hit a no-doubt home run over the fence of center field, and that was followed with a base hit by Lexi Waits. who eventually beat the throw to home later in the inning to put LC up by five runs.
LC added seven more runs in the third for a 12-0 advantage. Scoring runs in the third for the visiting Lady Mustangs were Hannah Morgan, McKayla Binkley, Creighton, Hannah Binkley, Hacker, Hayley McConnaughey and Allen.
Allen had the big hit of the inning, smashing a 3-run home run over the centerfield fence with two outs to put LC ahead by the aforementioned 12 runs. Allen ended the game with five RBIs, finishing 2-for-5 with two runs and two home runs.
In the fourth, LC tacked on four more runs from Morgan, Madison Wills, McKayla Binkley and Creighton. Creighton batted in three of the runs with a three-run triple to centerfield. Creighton scored on a double to left field by Hannah Binkley for the 16-2 lead.
The win now sends McClain to a game scheduled for Friday at Westfall, the No. 1 seed in the SE District and the reigning Division III State champions.
"I wouldn't trade this group for anyone right now," Bolender said. "They don't give up and keep playing."
Trailing by a 16-2 score to Highland County counterpart Lynchburg-Clay before the bottom of the fifth inning began, the Lady Tigers needed five runs to keep the game going.
McClain did that and more with a nine-run fifth, and eventually battled their way with a patient approach at the plate to overcome what was a 14-run deficit to win by a 18-17 score Tuesday night at Daryle C. Unger Field.
"With this group, I will never count them out," MHS head coach Ed Bolender said. "I told them after the third inning we haven't quit all year, and we need a big inning. The girls answered and completed the comeback.
"I've been coaching baseball and softball here for 17 years, and I've never seen or been a part of something like this. Credit Lynchburg-Clay also … they hit line drive after line drive for the first three innings.
"In the third, we started our second round in the lineup and we started hitting the ball. I'm stunned."
The difference of the game began in the bottom of the fifth for the Lady Tigers with Shania Massie taking to the bases on an infield error, followed by a single by fellow senior Sarah Thompson and a walk by Kelcey Smith.
The bases were loaded for MHS with no outs, and that's when the rally really began.
Madison Schumacher singled to score Massie from third, and Kenzie Anderson singled to right field to score Thompson. Valerie Caldwell followed with a base hit of her own to left field to plate Smith, cutting the Lady Mustangs' lead to 16-8. Caldwell ended the game 3-for-5.
After a pitching change for LC, Chantel Landrum reached first on a fielder's choice, gaining the RBI when Schumacher crossed home plate.
Following the first out of the inning, Savannah Anderson was hit by a pitch to bring home Kenzie Anderson as the bases were still loaded. Massie drew an RBI walk to score Caldwell, and Thompson brought home Landrum with another walk. Thompson was 2-for-3 with three runs and four RBIs.
The score continued to get closer with Smith singling to right field for two more Lady Tiger runs with Massie and Thompson scoring their second runs of the inning. Smith eventually scored on an RBI walk by Kenzie Anderson to make the deficit go from 14 runs at the start of the inning to three as the score was now 16-13.
Smith finished the game with six RBIs, going 3-for-4 with two runs.
In the top of the sixth, LC added one last run to their totals with McKayla Binkley crossing home plate.
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LC's lead went away for good in the bottom of the sixth as the Lady Tigers added five runs to their totals to take a one-run lead. Scoring runs in the sixth were Landrum, Sydney Barton, Savannah Anderson, Massie and Thompson. Barton was 3-for-4 on the night.
McClain closed out the top of the seventh with three straight outs, with starting pitcher Abby Shrout forcing two fly balls to center field (including a diving catch by Caldwell) and the final out coming via pop up to Shrout by the pitching circle.
What can't be overlooked are the very good first four innings by the Lady Mustangs as they scored 16 of their 17 runs in those innings, including three home runs in the process.
The first inning saw the Lady Mustangs begin with a single by Madysyn Creighton, followed by a walk by Hannah Binkley. Chelsi Hacker sent the ball over the centerfield fence for a three-run home run with no outs to put LC up 3-0.
Creighton finished 2-for-5 with four RBIs and three runs. Hacker finished the game with five RBIs.
After the first out was recorded, Brittany Allen also hit a no-doubt home run over the fence of center field, and that was followed with a base hit by Lexi Waits. who eventually beat the throw to home later in the inning to put LC up by five runs.
LC added seven more runs in the third for a 12-0 advantage. Scoring runs in the third for the visiting Lady Mustangs were Hannah Morgan, McKayla Binkley, Creighton, Hannah Binkley, Hacker, Hayley McConnaughey and Allen.
Allen had the big hit of the inning, smashing a 3-run home run over the centerfield fence with two outs to put LC ahead by the aforementioned 12 runs. Allen ended the game with five RBIs, finishing 2-for-5 with two runs and two home runs.
In the fourth, LC tacked on four more runs from Morgan, Madison Wills, McKayla Binkley and Creighton. Creighton batted in three of the runs with a three-run triple to centerfield. Creighton scored on a double to left field by Hannah Binkley for the 16-2 lead.
The win now sends McClain to a game scheduled for Friday at Westfall, the No. 1 seed in the SE District and the reigning Division III State champions.
"I wouldn't trade this group for anyone right now," Bolender said. "They don't give up and keep playing."