PHOTOS: Lady Wolverines Knock Off Deer Lakes, Advance In WPIAL Playoffs

For the sixth consecutive season, the Wolverine softball team won a first round playoff game.

Tuesday afternoon’s opening round contest was a back and forth thriller that saw 11th seeded Ellwood City put up a three spot in the top of the seventh inning to turn a 5-4 deficit into a 7-5 victory over the 6th seeded Deer Lakes Lancers. –

Ellwood City scored first, as lead off batter Angie Nardone doubled into left center and scored on a two out RBI single to right by Aliya Garroway. The energy and the lead was short lived as Garroway was injured advancing to second on a wild pitch and Deer Lakes scored twice in the home half of the first to take a 2-1 lead.

Ellwood City regained the lead in the fifth as they plated 3 runs to go up 4-2. Keira Rozanski reached first after getting hit by a pitch and moved to second on a single up the middle by Angie Nardone. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch with one out. Maria Ioanilli hit a deep drive to right field that was lost in the sun as both runners scored and Ioanilli ended up on third base. Kali Barnett then brilliantly executed a safety squeeze bunt to score Ioanilli.

The Lancers did not quit as they tied things up in bottom half of the inning. A walk, error, and double tied the score heading into the sixth inning.

Deer Lakes took the lead in the sixth on a single, error, sacrifice bunt, and wild pitch.

The Wolverines got their playoff magic going in the seventh as Kyla Servick laced a single up the middle to get things started. Ioanilli followed with a shot down the third base that resulted in a double and moved Servick to third base. Garroway then reentered the contest and smartly hit a ground ball to the right side to score Servick with the tying run. That set the stage for Senior Makinley Magill. She calmly hit a clutch two out single into center field to plate Ioanilli with the go ahead run. Winning pitcher and Freshman Julia Nardone then came up huge as she one-hopped a double off the wall in center field to score a head first sliding Magill from first for a two run cushion.

Nardone followed up the double as she slammed the door on the Lancers in the seventh. She set them down in order with a ground out and consecutive flyouts.

The win was a total team effort as nine players combined for eleven hits on the day. Ioanilli led the charge with a triple and double. Angie Nardone pitched in with a double and single while Julia Nardone also doubled. Servick, Garroway, Barnett, Magill, Katelyn Wehman, and Keira Rozanski all contributed singles.

Wolverine starter Julia Nardone collected her first playoff win. She struck out 2 and walked 2 as she scattered 7 hits in the complete game victory.

The Wolverines, now 12-4 on the season, will now play 3rd seeded Waynesburg on Thursday at a site and time to be determined. [VIEW FULL BRACKET]

OF NOTE: Riverside Panthers begin their softball playoff journey on Wednesday against Frazier at 6:00 p.m. at North Allegheny. The Riverside boys baseball team also plays Wednesday with an opening round Class-2A playoff game versus Chartiers Houston at 4:30 p.m. at Peterswood.  The Ellwood City boys baseball team plays Thursday against Keystone Oaks at 4:00 p.m. at Highlands in Class-3A playoff action.

photos courtesy: Pittsburgh Current