Ten-run 2nd inning keys Lady Rockets’ win over GCC
WAYNESBURG — Jefferson-Morgan used a 10-run second inning to take control in Thursday’s game against Greensburg Central Catholic in the first round of the WPIAL Class A softball playoffs at Waynesburg University’s softball field.
Despite an 11-0 lead after two innings, the Lady Rockets (9-6) needed a few more innings to put away the Lady Centurions (6-7) before prevailing, 14-4, in a game that was called in the sixth inning due to the 10-run rule.
“When you get the chance to score a bunch of runs, you have to score them,” Jefferson-Morgan coach Rich Rush said. “We should have put this game a lot earlier, and hit the ball a lot better than we did.”
Jefferson-Morgan advances to the quarterfinals for the fourth straight season. The Lady Rockets play Sewickley Academy (11-5) on Monday at North Strabane Intermediate School, which is part of the Canon-McMillan School District. The first pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
“I think we can compete with these top teams this year,” Rush said. “We played Carmichaels tough. This will be our fourth straight season where we made it to the quarterfinals.
“The first three years we played Union twice and Frazier once, but we have a better seed this year, so we were able to stay out of that eight-nine matchup and get a little bit better matchup this time around.”
Jefferson-Morgan put up its 10 runs in the second on four hits. The Rockets drew five walks and took advantage of two of the three errors that Greensburg CC committed.
“We also had an injury to one of our players in the second inning, and with a small roster like we have, that made it even tougher,” Greensburg Central Catholic coach Chelsey Frock said. “Our girls held their ground till the end, and that’s all I could ask for. They didn’t get shut out, and kept playing despite trailing by so much after the second inning.”
Jefferson-Morgan’s Addyson Teagarden and Karlee Crockard scored on wild pitches in the second. Brooklynne Snyder and Ava Wood added to the Rockets’ run total in the second after they touched home plate as a result of errors.
Teagarden’s two-run double to left field scored Ashlynne Snyder and Wood, who scored twice in the frame. Teagarden scored a second run in the inning on Crockard’s base hit to left field.
Teagarden had a single in the second. Gabby Marmie’s double to left field plated Kallyn Novak.
Marmie scored when Ashlynne Snyder walked with the bases loaded and starting and winning pitcher Emilee Bazzoli scored on Addalei Larkin’s sacrifice flyout to center field.
Despite an 11-0 deficit heading into the third inning, the Lady Centurions scored two runs, as Madelyn Bova singled to lead off the frame and sprinted home on Julianna Saxion’s doubled.
Saxion advanced to third on the throw and scored on a passed ball.
Greensburg CC cut the deficit to 11-4 in the top of the sixth inning before Jefferson-Morgan put the game away with three runs in the bottom of the frame.
Larkin doubled to center field with one out and advanced to third when Wood reached on an error. Larkin scored on a wild pitch and Wood moved to third on the same play before Teagarden walked.
Wood touched home plate on Crockard’s single to center field, and Teagarden advanced to third before scoring the final run on Novak’s groundout to the pitcher.
Brooklynne Snyder knocked in Bazzoli in the first inning with a double to left field after the Rockets’ pitcher had walked.
Bazzoli allowed four runs (one earned) on four hits over six innings with seven strikeouts and three walks.