By TJ HATHAWAY
WEBSTER, N.Y– For the second time in the last three years, the Waterloo Lady Indians are sectional champions. Waterloo scored five runs in the first three innings, and it helped guide them to a 6-4 victory over the No. 1 seed Batavia Blue Devils.
“It’s an awesome feeling really.” said Coach Kierstyn DeCory. “We came from last year to getting to the finals after beating Batavia in the semis and then losing to Newark in the finals, so we were definitely hungry to come back this year.”
After a scoreless first inning, Logan Amidon got the scoring started with a RBI single that scored Kennedy Beniamino. The lead extended to 3-0 after Makayla Jensen and Gywn Patek scored after errors. The third inning saw back-to-back doubles by Beniamino and Amidon that scored two more runs, extending the Waterloo lead to 5-1. A lead off home-run in the fifth-inning by Madison Westerberg made the Waterloo lead 6-2. DeCory knew that her girls would have to stay mentally locked in at the plate to win the game.
Kennedy Beniamino doubles, scoring Nadaya Clingerman to give @AthleticsWCSD a 4-1 advantage over @BHSScores. pic.twitter.com/o0FwoWsY8B
— TJ Hathaway (@tj_hathaway) May 28, 2022
“I just tell them to be disciplined. Some of us like to reach up for some high balls, I knew that she (Gianna Mruczek) was going to throw a lot of high pitches, I told them that they need to lay off of it, stay disciplined all game, and wait for their pitch. So be patient, make it work, and we’d be good.”
Throughout the entire game, Waterloo was constantly pressuring the Batavia defense by being aggressive on the basepaths. It seemed that every time that a ball was in play, Waterloo was fighting to get the extra base. DeCory says that this is what makes them the team that they are.
“We’re always aggressive. That’s just what Waterloo softball is all about. Just always be aggressive, that’s just our style of playing. Small ball, aggressiveness, and if they get out I tell them it’s on me. I own it, and I expect them to be aggressive.”
After Waterloo took the 6-2 lead in the fifth, Batavia responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame thanks to RBI singles by Gianna Mruczek and Julia Clark cut the lead to 6-4.
“I told them to relax, stay calm, and that if we play our game we’ll be fine”, said DeCory.
Junior Nadya Clingerman came in to pitch the last five innings, and struck out six batters. She also went 2-4 at the plate with a double, that combined with her pitching helped her earn Section V Class B1 Championship Player of the Game honors.
Clingerman earns the strikeout to leave three runners stranded, but @BHSScores is still able to get a run in the inning, making the score @AthleticsWCSD 5, @BHSScores 2 heading into the fourth. pic.twitter.com/2MRpTYcZvS
— TJ Hathaway (@tj_hathaway) May 28, 2022
“I’m in shock”, said Clingerman. “I didn’t think that was going to be the outcome personally, but I knew we had it in us over the season.”
After a leadoff double by Hannah Carney for Batavia in the bottom of the 7th, Clingerman was able to force three straight outs to end the game for Waterloo.
“I just told myself that my team had my back, and that I could do it,” Clingerman described. “I just had to finish strong and bring home the brick.”
Westerberg had a pair of singles and a home run for Waterloo. Amidon doubled, singled, and scored a pair of runners. Clingerman singled twice. Beniamano doubled. Emily Plate singled. Makayla Jensen started for the Indians, and threw two innings.
Beniamino makes the play to keep a Batavia run off the board. Still @AthleticsWCSD 5, @BHSScores 1. pic.twitter.com/DsoTaLo5ca
— TJ Hathaway (@tj_hathaway) May 28, 2022
For Batavia, Mruczek pitched the whole game and struck out seven batters. She also had a RBI single. Carney and Clark each had two hits. Lila Fortes, Lyndsey Grazioplene, and Drew Stevens each had a hit.
Waterloo will play Wellsville in the Section V Class B regional qualifier, with the winner advancing to regionals to play the Section VI representative.
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