EC 12u Softball Team Wins Playoff Thriller Vs Shenango, Advances To Championship Game

At first glance, the semifinal playoff game had all the makings of a great game. Two evenly matched teams were meeting for the third time with both teams collecting a victory. The rubber match that took place at Stiefel Park on Tuesday night was all of that and more. The Lady Wolverines finally took their first lead in their last at bat and hung on for a hard fought 8-6 victory over Shenango. With the win, Ellwood City improved to 14-2 on the season.

Shenango got things started quickly in the top of the first inning. The first two batters reached base on a walk and single. They would come around to score on an rbi groundout and an error.

The Lady Wolverines got on the board in the home half of the second inning. Emma Bogacki led off with a single and stole second. She advanced to third on a groundout by Kaylie Palombi. She would score on an rbi single by Natalee Gillin.

The Wildcats increased their lead to 4-1 in the third inning. Once again the first two batters reached base, this time via bases on balls. A double steal would put runners on second and third. A one out single into right field would bring both in to score.

Ellwood City plated two in the fourth inning to close the gap to 4-3. Palombi led off the inning with a hard hit grounder to shortstop that was misplayed. She advanced to second on a groundout by Gillin. Lexi Beck brought Palombi in as her hard grounder to second base was also misplayed for an error. A walk to Dakota Hicks and sacrifice bunt by Kiley Leviere put runners on second and third with two outs. Kennedy Brown then put together a tremendous twelve pitch at bat that culminated in an rbi infield single.

Shenango padded their lead in the fifth as the first three batters reached base on walks. Amber McQuistion then reentered the game in the circle to minimize the damage. Shenango was able to add the run on a fielder’s choice ground ball but the next three batters were retired by strikeout with the bases loaded.

The Lady Wolverines went up for good with a five run fifth inning. Amber Mcquistion led off with a single and stole second. Emma Bogacki then laced a line shot into the left center field gap for an inside the park homer that tied the game at 5. With one out, Gillin struck again with a double into right center field. Courtesy runner Emma Schlafly then entered the game for Gillin. A two out walk to Hicks and HBP to Ava Lucarelli would load the bases for Brown. Once again, Brown was clutch as she provided another rbi infield single to take the lead. Sara Schwarz then provided insurance as she drove in the final two runs with a single.

The gutsy Shenango team was not about to go quietly as they fought hard in their final at bat. After plating a run to make it 8-6, Shenango had two runners on and the cleanup hitter at the plate with two outs. With the tying run on first base, Mcquistion deftly fired a chest high fastball by the hitter for the strikeout and the victory.
Brown, Mcquistion, and Gillin all contributed two hits to the 8 hit attack. Schwarz and Bogacki rounded out the hit parade with a single and HR respectively. Beck added an rbi while Mcquistion, Bogacki, Palombi, Schlafly, Beck, Hicks, and Lucarelli all scored. Defensively, McQuistion, Bogacki, and Palombi all assisted on ground ball outs.

McQuistion got the win in the circle as she went four innings. She yielded 3 hits with 10 strikeouts and zero walks. Bogacki was also effective in her two innings of work. She gave up 1 hit and walked 5 with 4 punchouts.

The Lady Wolverines will play for the title Thursday evening vs Mohawk. First pitch is set for 8:15pm at Shenango High School.