Hamilton earns berth in Class D semifinal

Emerald Knights beat Poland 12- 3

HAMILTON >> It seemed like any ball that came with in range of a Hamilton batter’s bat on Saturday was going to be hit, and hit hard. The Emerald Knights combined extra base hits -- including two home runs -- and a quick reacting defense to beat Poland 12- 3 and advance to the Class D semifinals.

“I told the girls to go out and hit the ball hard and that’s what we did all day,” said Hamilton head coach Bill Dowsland.

After a scoreless first inning for both teams, Hamilton batters came out strong at the plate in the second.

Batting second in the order with one out, Caitlyn Purdy lined a single to left field and was able to round first and reach second second thanks to a Poland error. Following Purdy, Cydnee Wendt

grounded to third for a single before another grounder by Ashlee Prentice loaded the bases and had Hamilton eyeing its first run with Hayden Nolan up to bat.

Nolan waited for her pitch, letting two balls and a strike go by before connecting, sending the ball just over the left field fence for a grand slam and a quick 4- 0 Hamilton lead.

It was the first of three home runs in the game, the second coming in the third inning by Poland’s Kara Morrison to earn the Tornadoes two runs. Not to be outdone, Hamilton pitcher Becca Rogers launched one of her own leading off for the Emerald Knights in the bottom of the third to make it a 5- 2 game. Rogers went 3- for- 3 at the plate in the win and had 13 strikeouts with only two walks in the circle to help stave off Poland, who cut the lead to two two in the top of the fourth.

But even a scoreless inning and a 5- 3 score didn’t shake Hamilton, according to Dowsland, who said he told the team to continue to “play ( their) game.”

And they did, getting back to hitting the ball deep in the fifth starting with Kelby Watkins’ one- run double followed by Kendall Rausch’s two- run double to tally three in the inning. Momentum continued to shift back to Hamilton’s offense as the Emerald Knights racked up five more runs in the sixth, enough to hold on for the win.

“It was another great team game today,” said Dowsland. “Now we have to get read for the next one.”

PHOTO BY JOHN HAEGER @ ONEIDAPHOTO ON TWITTER/ ONEIDA DAILY DISPATCH Hamilton's Hayden Nolan ( 14) makes her way around the bases after hitting a grand slam in the bottom of the second inning of its Class D quarterfinal against Poland on Saturday in Hamilton.

PHOTO BY JOHN HAEGER @ ONEIDAPHOTO ON TWITTER/ ONEIDA DAILY DISPATCH Hamilton’s Cydnee Wendt reaches to make the catch for an out in front of teammate Hayden Nolan in the top of the second inning.