The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Wright’s RBI lifts Dukes to win
Wellington saw its fiverun lead erased before Lexi Wright’s RBI double in the sixth inning plated the goahead run as the Dukes beat Olmsted Falls, 7-6, on April 27 in the first round of the annual Prebis Memorial Classic.
The Dukes scored five runs off four hits over the first two innings and headed to the plate with a disciplined approach against Olmsted Falls, using three walks (five total) to help get runners on base and ready to score.
After Olmsted Falls tied the game, 6-6, in the fifth inning, Wright’s big hit scored a runner from second base and Wellington (11-4) held on for the win.
“I just knew my team really needed me and to score that run meant everything to us,” Wright said.
“Normally in these tournaments there’s a lot more competition than in our conference so it just shows us better hitting, better pitching and we have to adjust and just compete.”
Known for their heavy hitters, the Bulldogs’ bats didn’t start to heat up until the third inning when Danielle Stevens smacked a three-run home run over the center field fence to cut the Wellington lead and finally put her team on the board.
Unfortunately, Olmsted Falls couldn’t match the
energy of its opponent and left the bases loaded in the sixth before going down 1-2-3 to end the game in the seventh.
“We are very good hitters. We can hit the ball when we need to, (but) unfortunately we came out really flat today,” Olmsted Falls coach Katrina Muzingo said.
“I think our SWC schedule is really brutal. We’ve played four or five games this week already ... and I think just the grind of it, we knew this weekend was gonna be tough and we came out flat. We couldn’t finish. Even when we were up and hitting, we still weren’t at our peak intensity.”
Wellington finished with eight hits, including a pair from Wright and Hope Diermyer, who went 2 for 4 with a double and a two RBI. Allissa Boraggina added a hit, two walks and three runs.
Not only did Wright and Diermyer impress with their bats, but the duo also made a couple of spectacular plays on defense to keep Olmsted Falls’ morale low.
With one out in the seventh, Wright made a diving catch in left field to rob Kayla Kippes of what looked like a sure hit. Kippes finished with two hits and an RBI for Olmsted Falls (11-5).
“Coach Wright, our assistant coach, worked with the outfielders on Thursday and I think that practice helped make Lexi make that catch and we had a couple good plays early by Hope Diermyer at second base,” Wellington coach Duane Sunagel said. “When the opportunities come for them to make a play, they know what they’re supposed to do.
“You know you have to come out here and play every inning because the teams here are good and any time you have the chance to win a close game like that you’ve got to do it.”