Staff Photo/Preston Byers Kylie Lance pitches in Newton Falls' playoff game against Warren JFK on Monday.
NEWTON FALLS — Newton Falls' Kylie Lance had three RBIs and struck out 10 batters Monday in a 12-2 home win over Warren JFK to advance the Tigers to the Division IV, Northeast District 3 softball semifinals. stole people.
When Lance was at bat, he had 3 hits in 4, including a triple, and allowed only 5 hits and 1 earned run in 6 innings pitched. But things didn't get off to a particularly good start for Lance and Newton Falls.
The Tigers trailed 2-0 in the first inning after Eagles starting pitcher Daniel Wickham singled to lead off the game and ultimately scored on an infield error. Hannah Myers and Samiyah Curry also singled in the top of the first inning, and Curry's hit gave Kennedy another run.
Wickham kept the score at 2-0 through the first two innings by batting his team in order in the first inning and picking up three more strikeouts in the second.
“There will always be moments when things don’t go as planned.” Newton Falls head coach Christina Baker said. “I've got to keep fighting, keep fighting, keep fighting. Eventually my swing will settle down and I played solid defense when I had to make something happen.”
Just as Lance struggled in the first inning, Wickham struggled in the third. The first two Newton Falls batters in the half inning chose walks, and the third made an error, loading the bases. In the first inning, with one out, Lance tied the score with a two-run homer, then Abby Wolford scored two more runs with a triple to the left field seats, giving them a 4-2 lead at the end of the third inning.
During the Tigers' great half-inning at bat, a Newton Falls supporter sitting just behind the right field fence blared the air horn for a second time. After the first umpire early in the game, the home plate umpire yelled at the outfield to stop. “Noise maker”.
When the referee heard the air horn again, he removed the supporters from the match and stopped the match until they left. After a delay of several minutes, supporters got into their cars and moved about eight meters away from the field, but that seemed to be enough for the referees, who restarted the match.
Newton Falls continued to build its lead in the fourth inning, during which time Kennedy brought in pitcher Addison Owens. After the two batters ahead of her in the order issued walks, Lance singled again, scoring the Tigers' fifth run. Later in the inning, Madalyn Knight walked to load the bases and give Newton Falls a 6-2 lead.
After a scoreless fifth inning, Lance opened the scoring with a leadoff triple to start an error-filled bottom of the sixth inning. After Knight grounded out Lance, Ella Downing and Madison Davis each singled and Natalie Henderson walked to load the bases.
After the Tigers scored their eighth run on an infield error, an outfield error in the next at-bat gave Newton Falls three more runs to make it 11-2, and Kennedy's season was immediately ended thanks to the 10-run mercy rule. I was in danger. . In the final at-bat of the game, Hannah Wright hit a ground ball, and a subsequent error allowed Kira Howard to score and end the game. When the contest ended, supporters who had been ejected honked their horns again, and several parents also honked their car horns in support.
Kennedy head coach Nicole Day said it was a difficult season for the Eagles, who finished 2-13, with nearly half of the team taking up the sport for the first time.
“In fact, out of 13 on our roster, we have five girls who have never played before.” Day said. “They've become really, really good players defensively across the board, so now they just have to work on their hitting side. … They've done a really great job this year. I'm really proud of them.”
After the game, Newton Falls coach Christina Baker reflected on her team's rough start in the first inning.
Mr. Baker said victory was “It's very important.” For the confidence of her team, which had lost six straight heading into Monday's game.
“When we went into the tournament, I told them, it's a brand new season.” Baker said. “We learned from our mistakes throughout the season, what we did right and what we did wrong, and it's time to move on. This is a place where we can show how far we've come.” ”
With the win, the Tigers will play in the Choker on Wednesday in the sectional final. The winner of that game advances to the district tournament next week in Dalton.
Do you have any interesting stories? Email Preston Byers at pbyers@tribtoday.com. Follow him at X (formerly Twitter) @PresByers.
