CHESTERLAND–The Edgewood Warriors picked up a 10-6 sectional semifinal victory on the road at West Geauga on Tuesday evening.
The Warriors scored two runs in four straight innings in a successful offensive performance.
“We had really good approaches at the plate,” said Edgewood coach Randy Vencill. “I thought we were aggressive and put the ball in play. I’m very happy with that.”
Edgewood got things rolling with the top of the lineup – Natalie Ianetta, McKenna Vencill, and Lucianna Paolillo – each getting on base. A walk of Makenna Rhodes brought in the opening run. A McKenna Vencill RBI in the second sent Carly Kray home to make it 2-0.
Paolillo took care of business in the circle as well. She notched two strikeouts in both of the first two innings while giving up only three hits.
“Lucy pitched great, Natalie caught great,” Coach Vencill said. “So that battery obviously did a great job today.”
It was another Vencill who took over in the third inning. Freshman Faith Vencill hit an RBI triple before coming home herself on a wild pitch.
However, a stretch of doubles from four of the first five West Geauga batters – Dayana Malone, Ava Borz, Shaylynn Rogaski, and Lely Percassi – closed the gap to 4-3 as the third inning came to a close.
“That was a prize fight,” said West Geauga coach Mark Percassi. “They jumped out on us, we came back. Back and forth all day.”
The Wolverines’ momentum came to a screeching halt in the top of the fourth. The defense committed three errors, resulting in two more runs for Edgewood and a reinflated three-run deficit.
West Geauga regrouped and pulled to within 6-4 in the bottom of the inning.
Malorie Lear doubled to start the rally and she scored on an RBI from Borz, her second. Borz finished with two hits, two RBIs, and a stolen base.
“Ava is just coming into her own,” Coach Percassi said “I wish we had 15 more weeks because it clicked for her this past week. She’s driving the ball and making defensive plays; you sometimes forget she’s a freshman.”
The Warriors added two more runs in the top of the fifth. Faith Vencill collected another RBI before scoring herself on an RBI by Kray. Faith Vencill finished with two RBI and two steals on the day.
In the bottom of the fifth, Lear hit another double to bat in a run and cut the lead back to three.
“I think it’s just momentum,” Coach Vencill said of his team’s ability to accumulate hits throughout the game. “One girl hits and then the next girl sees it and believes she can do the same thing.”
The sixth was the final of a four-inning stretch of two-run offensive outings for Edgewood. A series of walked batters and wild pitches brought in two more for the Warriors as they claimed a 10-5 advantage.
The Wolverines didn’t go away as they rallied in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs, Rogaski stepped to the plate and went yard, sparking a stretch of hitting that led to a bases-loaded situation with the tying run at bat.
“You’re down and you need something big to happen,” Coach Percassi said. “And all of a sudden, it gives you an immediate rebirth of energy. And Shaylynn is another (underclassmen). She’s just a junior.”
However, Paolillo was able to get out of the jam by securing yet another strikeout to leave the runners stranded. Paolillo registered 10 strikeouts on an evening where she pitched all seven innings.
“She’s been doing it all year for us, so I’m kind of spoiled right now,” Coach Vencill said of Paolillo’s performance. “We expect great things from her, and she gave us great things today.”
McKenna Vencill led the Warriors’ offense as she finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Natalie Ianetta and Faith Vencill both collected two hits, and Paolillo, Rhodes, Addison Lamson, Avery Vencill, Gianna Ianetta, and Kray each had one hit in the win.
With the win, the Warriors improved to 13-3 overall. They host Kirtland on Wednesday then play at West Branch in a sectional final on Thursday.
“We’re going to have to be fundamentally sound,” Coach Vencill said on what it will take to continue their push in the sectional tournament. “We have to push some runs across and not allow extra outs. We have to make the plays when they are there.”
Lely Percassi went 3-for-4 with a double to lead the Wolverine offense. Malone, Borz, Rogaski, Morgan Atwara, and Lear each collected two hits. Lear and Borz both doubled while Rogaski hit a home run.
Percassi took the loss in the circle after allowing three earned runs on 12 hits with two strikeouts. Malone pitched one inning, allowing two unearned runs on zero hits with one strikeout.
West Geauga’s postseason run ended with the loss but the Wolverines, champions of the CVC Chagrin Division, travel to Beachwood on Friday and have games remaining against Geneva and Beaumont next week.
