by TYLER HATHAWAY
Madison Hicks pitched her fourth straight complete game of the postseason, striking out eight batters in a 5-3 win over Honeoye Falls-Lima, Tuesday night. The win clinches Webster Thomas a spot in the NYS Class A Far West Regional.
“(Hicks) is the best,” said Thomas head coach Emily Castro. “She’s tough, and she does everything that she can. Every ounce of energy she has she is going to use to throw.”
After allowing a pair of runs in the opening inning, Hicks responded by retiring twelve of the next thirteen batters she faced, including a second inning in which she struck out all three batters she faced.
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“I just trust my defense,” said Hicks. “This defense is so amazing and I just know I can trust my catcher Anna (Bello) and I can trust my pitches.”
“She’s our leader and we’re so proud of her and she’s just phenomenal,” said Castro.”
The win was eighth in the last nine games for Thomas. The last time the Titans played in the Far West Qualifier was in 2009, a year in which they did not make states.
“It’s so exciting,” said Hicks. “This team is amazing, it was a full team effort.”
“We’re mentally prepared,” said Castro. “We’re ready, we believe in ourselves. We know that on any given day we can do it and we can pick each other up.”
The game started off with HFL’s Madison Macko hitting a two-run single that gave the Cougars a 2-0 lead. Thomas responded, scoring four runs in the bottom of the 1st to give them a lead they wouldn’t give up for the rest of the game. Anna Bello had an RBI, Madeliene Throumoulus doubled into deep center that scored another, and then Olivia Constantino and Ella Maloney had consecutive RBI singles.
Thomas scored its fifth run in the fifth inning, when Anna Bello put one over the right field fence to increase the Titans lead to 5-2.
HFL responded quickly there after, as an RBI single by Maddie Fowler scored Emma Dunman and left runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs. Hicks collected herself, and retired the final six batters of the game including a strikeout to end it.
Ruby Marrapese singled in the first inning and scored. Ella Maloney had a pair of singles. Hicks finished with a single, and so did Emma Bello.
For Honeoye Falls-Lima (14-11), Maia Gathercole started on the mound and threw two innings. Emma Dunman came in and finished the game, striking out five batters over five innings, allowing a pair of hits. Madison Schubach singled in the first inning and scored. Dunman singled twice, scored once, and drew a walk. Ellie Casler and Maddie Fowler each singled once.
“We all wanted to get to this point and we did,” said Hicks. “It’s just so fun and exciting.”
The Titans (17-7) advance to play the winner of Williamsville East and West Seneca East in Saturday’s Class A Far West Regional at Webster Schroeder.
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