Lady 'Cats 1 run short in district semifinal
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
MINFORD — A late rally in the bottom of the seventh wasn't enough for the Whiteoak Lady Wildcats, as their 2013 season came to a close Thursday, with a 7-6 loss to Symmes Valley in the Division IV SE District semifinals.
The loss at Minford High School to the Lady Vikings of Symmes Valley was full of drama-filled moments, as WHS not only trailed 4-1 after four innings, but eventually grabbed the lead in the sixth.
WHS defeated state-ranked Notre Dame in the sectional round this postseason.
"I'm just really proud of this team," WHS head coach Bret Malone said. "Nobody expected us to get to this point of the tournament. The way this group of girls came together was just phenomenal, and they need to expect to be back here every year."
[[In-content Ad]]For WHS (8-16), one moment in the game that didn't go their way, but possibly could have. That moment came in the top of the seventh inning, as WHS had just taken a one-run lead at 5-4 the inning before.
The moment was a close call at second base on an out attempt with a throw from third for a fielder's choice ended up not going the Lady 'Cats' way. The SV runner was called safe, beating the tag at the base and called safe according the the judgement of the field umpire.
With no outs, instead of one, WHS eventually gained the first out of the inning as Kiley Sosby struck out the next batter. From there, an errant throw to third on another fielder's choice attempt allowed two runners to cross home plate, as the throw went past the third baseman into the outfield. From there, a single by the Lady Vikings scored a third run in the seventh to put them ahead by a 7-5 score.
"We know we are going to have some errors, and that is OK, because lately we have been able to overcome them," Malone said. "(Thursday) those errors just came at inopportune times.
"The difference with this group from the start of the year until now is where they would make an error, they would just hang their heads, but now they battled and didn't give up."
WHS attempted a rally in the bottom of the seventh with Sosby crushing a home run over the left field fence to lead off the inning.
From there, Makayla Wescott walked on six pitches with two outs, then advanced to second on a passed ball. Ashleigh Harless also forced a walk on five pitches, and the bases were loaded when Jayde Parr was hit by a pitch. Parr finished 2-for-3, hitting two doubles.
"Jayde was huge for us (Thursday)," Malone said. "Her two doubles were big, and that just shows how these girls, like I said before, continue to battle. Kiley had the home run in the seventh, and then we made things interesting by getting the bases loaded."
A win just wasn't in the books for the Lady 'Cats as their season came to an end on a pop up to second base.
In the earlier innings, WHS scored first with a two-out double putting Sosby (2-for-3, one walk) on the bases. Sosby scored on an infield error for a 2-1 score.
In the second and third innings, SV (13-14) scored two runs in each for a 4-1 lead with Tiara Hatfield, Hannah Maynard, Stephanie Brown and Kaitlyn Payne rounding the bases.
WHS made it a one-run game in the bottom of the fifth with two runs of their own as Harless and Parr both reached the base to begin the inning, with Harless singling and Parr hitting a double, sending Harless to third. Harless scored on an errant throw in the infield. Caitlyn Arledge followed with a single to score Parr. Christine Hamilton also had a hit in the fifth inning.
In the sixth, Wescott and Parr each scored a run, putting the Lady 'Cats in front with Wescott leading off by taking first on an error. Parr doubled to left field with one out, giving WHS two base runners. Both Wescott and Parr scored on another infield error by the Lady Vikings.
As a team, WHS totaled seven hits and walked three times.
For Symmes Valley, Hatfield was 4-for-4 with one run to lead the Lady Vikings at the plate.
Sosby was charged with the loss. The sophomore allowed seven runs, with just one being earned. She also gave up nine hits and walked zero, while striking out 19 batters (she faced 32).
Sosby had over 200 strikeouts this season, and for her first two years of high school softball, she has totaled 521 strikeouts, ending the season with eight wins.
Sosby had at least two strikeouts in every inning, including striking out the side in the first, third, fourth, fifth and seventh innings.
The win went to Payne as she pitched 1.2 innings of relief.
Seniors for WHS in their final game were Makayla Burns, Morgan Miller, Christine Hamilton and Kendra Parker.
"The seniors are a good group and are going to be missed," Malone said.
The loss at Minford High School to the Lady Vikings of Symmes Valley was full of drama-filled moments, as WHS not only trailed 4-1 after four innings, but eventually grabbed the lead in the sixth.
WHS defeated state-ranked Notre Dame in the sectional round this postseason.
"I'm just really proud of this team," WHS head coach Bret Malone said. "Nobody expected us to get to this point of the tournament. The way this group of girls came together was just phenomenal, and they need to expect to be back here every year."
[[In-content Ad]]For WHS (8-16), one moment in the game that didn't go their way, but possibly could have. That moment came in the top of the seventh inning, as WHS had just taken a one-run lead at 5-4 the inning before.
The moment was a close call at second base on an out attempt with a throw from third for a fielder's choice ended up not going the Lady 'Cats' way. The SV runner was called safe, beating the tag at the base and called safe according the the judgement of the field umpire.
With no outs, instead of one, WHS eventually gained the first out of the inning as Kiley Sosby struck out the next batter. From there, an errant throw to third on another fielder's choice attempt allowed two runners to cross home plate, as the throw went past the third baseman into the outfield. From there, a single by the Lady Vikings scored a third run in the seventh to put them ahead by a 7-5 score.
"We know we are going to have some errors, and that is OK, because lately we have been able to overcome them," Malone said. "(Thursday) those errors just came at inopportune times.
"The difference with this group from the start of the year until now is where they would make an error, they would just hang their heads, but now they battled and didn't give up."
WHS attempted a rally in the bottom of the seventh with Sosby crushing a home run over the left field fence to lead off the inning.
From there, Makayla Wescott walked on six pitches with two outs, then advanced to second on a passed ball. Ashleigh Harless also forced a walk on five pitches, and the bases were loaded when Jayde Parr was hit by a pitch. Parr finished 2-for-3, hitting two doubles.
"Jayde was huge for us (Thursday)," Malone said. "Her two doubles were big, and that just shows how these girls, like I said before, continue to battle. Kiley had the home run in the seventh, and then we made things interesting by getting the bases loaded."
A win just wasn't in the books for the Lady 'Cats as their season came to an end on a pop up to second base.
In the earlier innings, WHS scored first with a two-out double putting Sosby (2-for-3, one walk) on the bases. Sosby scored on an infield error for a 2-1 score.
In the second and third innings, SV (13-14) scored two runs in each for a 4-1 lead with Tiara Hatfield, Hannah Maynard, Stephanie Brown and Kaitlyn Payne rounding the bases.
WHS made it a one-run game in the bottom of the fifth with two runs of their own as Harless and Parr both reached the base to begin the inning, with Harless singling and Parr hitting a double, sending Harless to third. Harless scored on an errant throw in the infield. Caitlyn Arledge followed with a single to score Parr. Christine Hamilton also had a hit in the fifth inning.
In the sixth, Wescott and Parr each scored a run, putting the Lady 'Cats in front with Wescott leading off by taking first on an error. Parr doubled to left field with one out, giving WHS two base runners. Both Wescott and Parr scored on another infield error by the Lady Vikings.
As a team, WHS totaled seven hits and walked three times.
For Symmes Valley, Hatfield was 4-for-4 with one run to lead the Lady Vikings at the plate.
Sosby was charged with the loss. The sophomore allowed seven runs, with just one being earned. She also gave up nine hits and walked zero, while striking out 19 batters (she faced 32).
Sosby had over 200 strikeouts this season, and for her first two years of high school softball, she has totaled 521 strikeouts, ending the season with eight wins.
Sosby had at least two strikeouts in every inning, including striking out the side in the first, third, fourth, fifth and seventh innings.
The win went to Payne as she pitched 1.2 innings of relief.
Seniors for WHS in their final game were Makayla Burns, Morgan Miller, Christine Hamilton and Kendra Parker.
"The seniors are a good group and are going to be missed," Malone said.