After the West Geauga Wolverines softball team tallied a quick first inning run on doubles by Amy Sparent and Kayla Lorenzo, it appeared West G was going to take early momentum and make short work of the Geneva Eagles.
But West Geaugea in the next inning gave Geneva three runs and a 4-1 lead heading into the fourth inning in this battle between Chagrin Valley Conference foes.
West G finally got some offense going again, tying the game with a 3-run fifth inning, before the teams went toe-to-toe into the ninth inning
A trio at the top of the Wolverines batting order — Amy Sparent, Torrie Gall, and Kayla Lorenzo — manufactured a decisive run in the ninth frame for a 6-5 West Geauga victory in blustery conditions in Geneva.
“Today, I think we played very well defensively while producing some timely hitting to win the game,” West G coach Bob Leppla said. “Geneva’s always tough, so we knew coming in that this would be a good test for our defense especially, and it was. The girls made big time plays at big times of the game for us.”
Keying the game winning ninth inning was Sparent, who scored three runs and had two hits in the contest. Her one out single came on a line drive to left field, and she was alert on the bases to move up on a wild pitch from Geneva pitcher Brittany Puluzne. Gall sent a shot into the hole at shortstop as the next hitter, sending Sparent to third base.
Gall stole second base on the first pitch to Lorenzo, putting runners on second and third with but one out. Gall had a trio of hits while scoring twice and driving in a run in the game.
Lorenzo, who also had three hits, including two doubles and three RBIs, sent a cannon shot on the ground toward the hole between short and second base, which was fielded cleanly but left only a play on Lorenzo at first, with Sparent scoring to break a 5-5 tie.
That ground ball was just enough.
“I was pretty nervous coming up in the ninth inning,” Lorenzo said. ” I just wanted to focus on doing what I know I can do, and I was able to get the job done.”
Sparent was thrilled after the contest as the frigid weather along the lakeshore began to take its toll on the players.
“This was just great, we all just love to play this game so much, we like to have loads of fun playing, and playing as a team,” she said.
Coach Leppla, who sees his team move to 6-1 on the season and 5-0 in CVC action, also sees his team improving where and when it is needed.
“Geneva’s always tough, and recently we’ve had some lean seasons here, so it’s a good time for the girls to step up in a big game for us,” he said. “We only start one senior, so getting the girls to trust in themselves, to stay focused, and to believe in each other the whole way is a huge part of the learning process for all of them.”
While Sparent, Gall, and Lorenzo combined for eight of the 12 West G hits, scored five of the runs, and drove home four runs, the pair of errors in the first inning which accounted for the big start for Geneva could have put the Wolverines in a bad way, but they didn’t.
Ending the fourth frame for West Geauga was centerfielder Carla Cavasinni, with a diving catch as she ranged into the hole in left center with two out and a runner on first who would score had the ball gotten beyond her grasp. Instead, it was just the third out.
After a wild pitch from winning pitcher Mia Minello made things slightly more sticky, a short popup down the first base line drew nearly all the infield on the right side for West G together going for the ball. As Lorenzo, Minello, and first basemand Lindsey Stanforth converged on the ball halfway down the first base line, Lorenzo reached up to snare the ball for the final out to secure the win.
Tension was high as the Eagles were threatening to spoil the late rally for the Wolverines, but Lorenzo would not be denied.
“As I was going for that last ball, my voice would not do anything for me,” she said. “I know to call for any ball I can reach, but I just could NOT get the words to come out, but I held on to the ball.”
The play could have been a calamity for the Wolverines, but head’s up determination and total perseverance from all the West Geauga players assured that no matter had the ball been dropped or booted, there were enough people around the ball to make that final grab.
It’s no wonder the Wolverines are still unbeaten in CVC action.