By GREG MENGELT

The News and Tribune

 

Providence’s softball team scored in its last at-bat in both games of its own invitational on Saturday to bring home the crown.

The Pioneers scored a single run in the bottom of the first extra inning to beat Crawford County 6-5 in the first round. They then scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to top North Harrison, 6-5 to claim the title.

“Winning (the Providence Invitational) was one of our goals this year,” Providence coach Sean Payne said. “We wanted to win it for the seniors. That’s what Blue Pride’s all about. Regardless of what the situation is, we keep fighting. The girls are tough mentally. We want to do what we can to represent the school well.”



CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

With the bases loaded and one out in a 5-5 game, Providence leadoff hitter Katy Flanagan singled down the third-base line to score Lauren Osborne and give the Pioneers the Providence Invitational title.

“Heading into the seventh, I just had a good feeling,” Payne admitted. “We came into the huddle with a lot of energy, which we’d been lacking the previous couple of innings. It’s one of those things. You could see it in the girls that they just wanted it.”

Trailing 5-3 heading into the seventh, Providence’s Kameron Klein drew a leadoff walk to start the rally.

“One of the things we’ve talked about is just trying to find a way to get on base,” Payne said. “Batting average is really overrated to me. I really just talk to them about on-base percentage. We talk about, if you find a way to get on, we’ll get you in. Kameron did a really great job of that.”

After Klein’s walk, Taylor Rockey singled down the third-base line to move pinch runner Morgan Boone to second base. Kelsea Bedan then attempted a sacrifice bunt to move the runners. Her bunt was so well executed that North Harrison didn’t attempt a throw and the bases were loaded.

Morgan Habermel followed with a walk to score Boone. After the Pioneers’ first out, Meredith Endris singled to center field and Rockey scored the tying run. Flanagan followed by lining the first pitch she saw down the third-base line to plate the game-winning run.

The three hits in the seventh inning gave Providence nine for the game and 22 for the day. In fact in its last four games, the Pioneers have 46 hits.

“After we played Paoli, we talked about the importance of swinging at good pitches,” Payne recalled. “They weren’t swinging at good pitches a lot. We’ve been working on that. Since the West Washington game (which was four games ago), we’ve been doing a good job. We really think we’re a good offensive team. We can put pressure on people.”

The seventh-inning rally was Providence’s third comeback of the game. North Harrison led 2-0 after the top of the first. In the Pioneers’ half of the first, Flanagan walked to open then inning. She later went to third on a Maria Cochran sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch to cut the Cats’ lead to 2-1.

North Harrison added another run in the second inning, but the Pioneers countered with an Allie Gillenwater leadoff double and a Meredith Endris single.

Gillenwater then scored when North Harrison tried to throw out Endris stealing second base. Endris later scored when Flanagan singled to right field.

The Cats scored two more runs in the top of the fourth off Providence starter Kristan Markland. After an Amber Longest double drove home North Harrison’s fifth run, Markland was never threatened again over the next four innings.

“I called time and went to talk to her. I just told her, ‘You have to hit spots. This team is going to kill you if you don’t hit your spots.’ She said OK,” Payne said. “She’s a girl of her word. I’m looking forward to the next three or four years with these young pitchers.”

Rockey and Flanagan had two hits apiece for the Pioneers. Rockey reached base three times and scored the game-tying run, while Flanagan had two singles and had the game-winning RBI.

Rockey and Flanagan were among six different Pioneers who scored runs in the contest.



PROVIDENCE FIRST ROUND

Flanagan again played a key role in the Pioneers’ comeback.

Providence, which was down 4-0 after the game’s first half-inning, fought back to get the game into an eighth inning.

In the eighth, Flanagan led off with a single. After a Habermel single, an Endris base hit scored Flanagan to get the Pioneers into the title game.

Rockey picked up the victory to improve to 3-0. Habermel also had a double in the victory.



CONSOLATION GAME

After a disappointing first-round loss to North Harrison, Charlestown recovered to beat winless Crawford County, 7-1 in the consolation game.

Allie Webster struck out 10 Crawford County batters in her compete-game victory. She also hit a home run, but it was erased when she was touched by a teammate before she reached home plate. However, she was credited with a triple.

Brittany Bennison went 2-for-2 with a walk and scored twice for the Pirates, who scored six runs in the fourth inning.



CHARLESTOWN FIRST ROUND

After taking a 4-2 lead in the fourth inning, North Harrison countered with four runs in the bottom of the fourth. The Lady Cats then tacked on two more in the fifth for an 8-4 victory.

McKenna Bussey led the Charlestown offense by going 2-for-3 and reaching base in all three of her plate appearances. She scored a run and had an RBI. Bennison was 1-for-2 for a double, scored twice and knocked in a run in the loss.

 

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