CLAYTON – The Tri-Village girls softball team defeated Ft. Loramie 5-0 in the OHSAA DIV Regional Semi-Final game to advance to the Regional Finals. They won by doing three things; strike first, win every inning and to not strike out more than twice in the game.
“We set some goals going into this game and part of it was to strike first, have less than two strikeouts and win every inning,” Tri-Village coach Emily Osborne stated.
The Patriots did strike first scoring one run in the 1st and two in the 2nd inning for a 3-0 lead.
Tai Mize got it going with a double and advanced to 3rd base on a ground out by Emma Greer. Then senior leader Kiersten Wilcox grounded out but was able to get Mize home for the 1st run of the game.
In the 2nd inning Katie Brandon reached on an error followed by Aereonna Baker getting on after getting plunked by the pitcher. Macy Howell then sacrificed to move both runners up to 2nd and 3rd base with one out.
Tai Mize got her second hit driving both Brandon and Baker home for two RBI’s and the Patriots led 3-0.
Emma Greer doubled but the Redskins were able to get out of the inning with no more damage.
Elizabeth Poling was in a groove pitching and limited Loramie holding them to just three hits in the game and enjoyed solid defense behind her to keep the Redskins in check.
Poling tossed 6 innings had one walk and four strikeouts.
The game remained 3-0 until the top of the 7th inning and the Patriots were looking to add a few insurance runs after Bierly got on with a single and then Hailey Burk reached base after getting hit with the ball.
Katie Brandon on a fielder’s choice was the 2nd out of the inning, but Bierly advanced to 3rd and Burk to 2nd.
Aereonna Baker settled into the box and immediately ripped a line drive double giving Tri-Village the insurance runs they wanted to go up 5-0.
Loramie would have one last opportunity in the bottom of the 7th inning and immediately got a double and a single to start and runners on 1st and 3rd with no outs and those insurance runs were looking pretty good about now.
Coach Osborne would then bring in Emma Greer to relieve Elizabeth Poling who had another solid performance.
And the formula that has worked over the last three games would again prove good as Greer diffused the threat and slammed the door on the Redskins to preserve their 5-0 lead and victory.
So how did the Patriots do on their goals for the game?
Well, they struck 1st, had just one strikeout and won every inning.
“Kudos to our girls for achieving their goals. We said we were going to have not more than two strikeouts, we had one and surprisingly it was Kiersten Wilcox, it was just her second all season,” Osborne said.
“We really were trying to hold ourselves accountable at the plate by getting on base so we could be in scoring position, and we did that getting a couple of runs early,” Osborne added.
The Patriots racked up 11 hits led by Camryn Osborne going 3-for-4, Aereonna Baker & Tai Mize drove in 2 runs each. Mize and Bierly both had 2 hits in the game as well.
The win advances the Patriots to the Regional Finals where they will play Minster who defeated Fayetteville Perry 5-2. The Wildcats were the #2 ranked team in the state in the final DIV softball poll. The game will be played again at Northmont High School at 5pm on Friday.
