Lady Beavers rally for 10-8 win over Buckeye Local in sectional tournament, advance to play Edison today

By AARON PETCHAL , Special to The Review
RICHMOND — It wasn’t the best game, and it wasn’t played under the best weather conditions, but in the end none of that mattered to the Beaver Local softball team.

Buckeye Local scored three runs in the first inning, and the Panthers led 6-1 after three innings, but the Beavers stormed back to score three runs in the fourth and four runs in the fifth to tie the score at 8. Then, the Beavers plated a pair of runs in the seventh while the Panthers were held scoreless enabling Beaver Local to defeat Buckeye Local, 10-8, Wednesday in an Ohio Div. II Sectional Semifinal at Jefferson Lake State Park.

“It was one heck of a game,” Beaver Local assistant coach Bill Stanfield said.

With the win, Beaver Local (16-11) advances to take on Edison (13-12) in the sectional final at 5 p.m. today.

Buckeye Local head coach Barry Closser declined to comment.

Kayla Mackall pitched all seven innings to earn the win for the Beavers. Offensively, Monique Fluharty tallied two singles and two RBIs, Lori Deem delivered a solo home run and a double and Brittany Barrett belted two singles with an RBI. Also, Sam Cianni contributed a run-scoring double, Katie Smith and Missy Headley each had a single and an RBI and Mackall chipped in with a single.

“They didn’t quit,” Stanfield stated. âThey were beautiful today. They worked their tails off.”

Lexee Koran took the loss for the Panthers. She struck out three and walked one in her 3 2/3 innings of relief work for starter Callie Clark.

Offensively, Clark contributed two singles, a double and an RBI, Audrey Verhovec, Nikki Cesario and Kristen Koles all chipped in with a single and an RBI and Ashley Becca belted a single and a double. Also, Shelby Bartrug recorded a double, and Jaycee Gotschall tallied a single.

The Panthers added a run in the second to go up 4-0, and Buckeye Local added two more runs in the third to take their five-run advantage. After the Beavers cut their deficit to 6-4, the Panthers plated a pair of runs in the fourth to go up 8-4.

(Petchal can be contacted apetchal@heraldstaronline.com)