INDEPENDENCE—West Geauga had to wait a week to bounce back from its seventh-inning meltdown in a 5-4 loss at Perry, but it was worth it.
After allowing the Pirates to score four runs in the bottom of the seventh, the Wolverines were eager to get back on the field to correct their mistakes and they did that in 7-5 win at Independence on Thursday.
“That was great and it was growth from the first game,” said West Geauga coach Mark Percassi. “We’re really happy we made it through the storm, unlike at Perry, so that’s growth. It’s great to come out here against a tremendous program and find a way to win. We had some key hits when it counted, base-running was great, and we had a couple of bunts that were huge. To watch us execute that way and to play good defense—they earned their runs—so that was really nice to see.”
Independence struck first when Natalie George led off the Blue Devil first with a home run over the left field fence, but the Wolverines countered with three runs in the top of the second.
Haley Ottman singled to start the rally and Shaylynn Rogaski hit a one-out single that left runners at the corners. Malory Lear loaded the bases with her infield single and Hannah Williams followed with an RBI single that tied the score. Michaela Platt then hit a two-run single that gave the Wolverines a 3-1 lead.
Independence’s Alexa Johnson doubled and scored on a wild pitch in the second to cut the West G lead to 3-2.
It remained that way until the fifth when Julia Clark hit a leadoff single ad scored on Shea Malone’s RBI single.
The Blue Devils responded with a run in the bottom half of the inning when Emily Gibbons singled and then George and Macey McGhee both hit two-out singles to cut West Geauga’s lead to 4-3.
West Geauga added two insurance runs in the sixth and another in the seventh.
Rogaski led off the sixth with a single and moved to third on Williams’ single. Clark followed with an RBI single and Platt scored on a bases-loaded hit batsman.
Rogaski tripled to start the seventh and she score on Lear’s groundout that gave the Wolverines a 7-3 advantage heading into the bottom of the seventh.
“That’s a great team and they’re competitive,” Percassi said. “We had a little bit of a buffer there, but every run to expand your lead matters. We played really good defense when it matters most, and that’s exciting because if you play great defense, you’re going to be in almost every game. They did a great job with that and I’m super proud of them.”
Keely Sears hit a one-out single and moved to second on George’s single. Sears scored on McGhee’s groundout. Alli Biondi then doubled home George but a groundout ended Independence’s comeback bid.
Ottman picked up the pitching victory after allowing three earned runs on six hits with five strikeouts in five innings. Lely Percassi closed out the game. She allowed two earned runs on three hits in two innings of work.
“Haley is our go-to, obviously, but we just felt like they were starting to time her up, so we made that change late,” Coach Percassi said. “We made it through the storm.”
Rogaski led the Wolverines with a 3-for-4 day at the plate and a triple with three runs scored. Clark and Williams both had two hits.
George finished 3-for-5 with a home run and two runs scored to lead Independence. McGhee went 2-for-4.
Biondi allowed seven earned runs on 13 hits and struck out two.
