by TYLER HATHAWAY
PITTSFORD, N.Y– Despite surrendering a four-run lead, No. 3 Webster Thomas (18-5) was able to stave off a fierce comeback attempt by No. 2 Pittsford Mendon (21-2) to earn a 9-8 win in 10 innings during Section V Class AA softball semifinal action on Thursday night. A single that scored two runs from senior Madison Hicks in the top of the 10th ended up being the difference in the game. The win gave Webster Thomas its fourth trip to a Section V championship game in the last four years.
“It feels amazing,” Webster Thomas coach Emily Castro said of the win. “These are just fantastic girls. We don’t give up. We keep going, and I’m just so proud of them.”
After the Titans established a 5-1 lead through the game’s first four and a half innings, Pittsford Mendon scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to make it 5-4. After Hicks hit an RBI double and Emily Ford placed an RBI single in the top of the seventh to make it 7-4 Webster Thomas, Pittsford Mendon plated three more runs to force extras. However, Castro’s squad didn’t flinch.
“I just said to not waver, keep going, stay focused, and be yourselves. That’s all they needed was to be themselves. I knew they would rally and the hits would fall, and we would get what we needed.”
Hicks started on the mound for the Titans and struck out three batters over six and two third innings. Olivia Bowers pitched the final three and a third innings for Webster Thomas and struck out four batters while only allowing one hit. With the bases loaded and there being two outs in the bottom of the tenth inning, Brooke Sudore made a running catch in right field to end the game.
The scoring got started in the first inning after Hicks put a ball over the left field fence that scored both herself and Madeleine Throumoulos. Then, an RBI single by Bowers made it 3-0 Webster Thomas through one inning.
In the second inning, Pittsford Mendon got its first run of the game after Quinn Sargent scored Cameron Lauterbach thanks to an RBI single.
Emma Maloney connected on an RBI single in the fourth inning to make it 4-1, then Emily Ford placed an RBI single in the fifth inning to make it 5-1. It was then that Mendon came alive, as Lilly Goldberg placed an RBI single that scored Emily Stanger, Greta Marino hit a sacrifice fly, and Lauterbach picked up an RBI on a fielder’s choice to bring the game to 5-4.
After Webster Thomas claimed a 7-4 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh, Pittsford Mendon was able to force extras after Alexandra Van Ginhoven hit a solo-shot home run, Greta Marino scored Goldberg on an RBI single, and Arina van Baaren scored Marino. Van Ginhoven singled to score Sargent in the 10th inning for the Vikings’ final run.
Hicks finished 3-for-6 with five RBI and two runs scored for Webster Thomas. Throumoulos and Ford each collected five hits. Emma Maloney singled three times. Julia Maciag, Olivia Constantino, and Molly Sweeney each singled and scored. Ella Maloney singled once.
Goldberg was 3-for-5 with an RBI, and a walk drawn for Pittsford Mendon. Goldberg pitched all 10 innings on the mound for the Vikings and struck out 10 batters. Marino doubled twice and had two RBI. Van Ginhoven finished with three hits, two RBI, and two runs scored. Lauterbach was 4-for-4 with an RBI, a run scored, and a walk drawn. Sargent singled twice and scored.
The Titans will take on No. 1 seed and cross-town rival Webster Schroeder in the Class AA championship on Saturday.
“We just take the momentum from this into Saturday,” said Castro. “And we go from there.”
Leave a Reply