WEBSTER, N.Y. — Krislyn Clement isn’t exactly sure how the play unfolded. Caught in the moment, the Webster Schroeder junior relied on instincts to initiate a championship-clinching play.
With the tying run at first and one out in the seventh inning of the 2021 Class AA final, Fairport’s Molly Caliel connected on a line drive that struck Clement in the left leg. The ball bounded toward first base.
“I have no idea what happened to be honest,” Clement said. “I saw the ball roll away, and I was like ‘Just got to get the out.’ ”
Clement wheeled and gave chase, taking five quick steps before going to the turf and in one swift motion shuttling the ball to teammate Samantha Schoenhardt covering the bag. Schoenhardt, without hesitation, came out of a stretch, set her feet and fired a strike to Emily Corcuera at home plate for the final out of the game and the season.
“It was a beautiful throw,” Schroeder head coach Meaghan Keil said.
A throw worthy of a championship and one that the Warriors made part of their preparation, at least to some degree. Corcuera made the tag at the plate for the final out in an 8-6 win.
“It was on the money,” Keil added. “We practice that one to home all the time but never like that. It was awesome. It was awesome.”
The standard 1-3-2 ends it! Webster Schroeder 8-6. Class AA champs. pic.twitter.com/vA6JweWVYZ
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) June 15, 2021
The play brought to an end a back-and forth affair that saw the Warriors erase an early deficit and take a three-run lead before pushing across the winning run in their final at-bat.
“We played from behind a lot this year,” Keil said. “As long as we have an out, we know there’s game left. We know there’s potential for us to win it.”
Trailing 3-0 before they came to the plate for the first time in the game, Keil’s squad put up a three-spot to tie the game in the first and took the lead one inning later. Clement’s two-run home run in the fourth made it a 6-3 game.
“It was so surreal to put one over the fence at that time in such a crucial moment,” Clement said. “I’m glad I could produce for my team.”
Clement took a two-strike offering to straightaway center to give Schroeder its largest lead of the game.
“It was my pitch,” she said. “It was right there, a little bit low on the outside corner.”
The lead was short-lived, though.
Sophia Amadori’s three-run shot off in the top of the fifth tied the game at six.
Clement came on in relief to start the sixth inning.
“I knew I had a strong D behind me,” Clement said. “Get in the circle, pitch strikes do my job and rely on my team.”
Mia Arena scored the eventual winning run in the bottom of the sixth. Arena got aboard on a one-out single. Clement followed with a double to right field. She overran the bag at second, drawing a throw. Arena took advantage and scampered home.
“I was just reading the play,” said Arena who finished 4-for-4 at the plate. “Just the adrenaline from everything. Kept my head in the game, all I wanted to do was win. This has been my dream since I was kid. I took it home. Nothing was stopping me.”
Krislyn Clement follows her HR with a double. Nearly thrown out at second, and Mia Arena alertly scampers home. Schroeder 7-6 1 out in the 6th. pic.twitter.com/i68SDZIfeU
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) June 15, 2021
Clement eventually scored on a Maddy Spakoski ground out for the final margin. It was her third run of the game having crossed home in the first when Schroeder tied the game at three.
The Class AA Player of the Year’s defensive play in the seventh made sure there would not be another tie in the contest.
“She’s a competitor,” Keil said of Clement. “She’s been up with us since eighth grade, sectionals as an eighth grader. She competes. She wants to win. Not only did she crawl out there and then Sam Schoenhardt to have the wherewithal to make the throw and get the tag.”
With all the factors occurring simultaneously, it’s difficult to imagine the play being executed flawlessly. It was Clement’s immediate reaction that triggered the sequence.
“My heart was pounding,” said Arena as she watched the play unfold from her shortstop position. “I was hoping that the umps were going to call them out. I was already crying by then.”
The title was the Schroeder softball program’s first since 2016.
“These kids,” Keil stated. “We started April 19th, but these kids even with the pandemic they worked all year round. Whether it’s off the tee, we were out here in November. We were out here in January. They deserve every second of this. They worked their butts off, and it showed today.”
Bizzie Baglieri gets Schroeder on the board. Mia Arena scores on the play. pic.twitter.com/fqNcCD0o4e
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) June 14, 2021
The game started with rain showers covering the field. Fairport’s Nicole Allen led the top of the first with a single. The Red Raiders loaded the bases when Claudia Giambrone and Morgan Kennedy reached via a hit by pitch. Caliel worked a bases-loaded two-out walk to bring in a run, and error scored two more for an early 3-0 Fairport advantage.
Mikayla Bengsch gives Schroeder a 4-3 lead. Emily Corcuera scores on the play. pic.twitter.com/HAm3PjonQb
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) June 14, 2021
Mikayla Bengsch gave Schroeder its first lead of the night with a one-out single in the second that scored Corcuera.
Leave a Reply