Hornet softball falls to Central Columbia, 5-2

By: Ed Weaver  /  May 29, 2014

The Wellsboro Varsity softball team was eliminated from the District IV Class AA playoffs after a 5-2 loss to Central Columbia on Wednesday, May 28.

Central struck first in the game as Kim Hollister doubled and scored in the bottom of the first inning. Wellsboro tied the game in the third as Sophomore Darci Warriner reached on an error and came home to score on an error.

The fourth inning proved costly for the Lady Hornets as Central scored four runs to put the game away.

"A couple of hits of the ball, this little thing happened in front of the plate and then a ball shoots through the gap with the bases loaded," head coach Greg Carr said.

After an out to start the inning Central got a single by Makenzie Klinger and a double by Megan Grozier that put Central Columbia up 2-1.

Wellsboro had a chance to get an out with a fielder's choice in front of the plate, but they weren't able to make the play, putting two runners on.

Paige Siegrist followed with a walk to load the bases, but the pitcher came in and got a strikeout to leave the Green Hornets one out away from escaping the inning.

With two outs and the bases loaded Central's Carly Swisher found the gap for a bases-clearing triple.

"That's the nature of the game," Carr said. "That's how it is. I thought we threw a good pitch."

After the four-run inning by Central the Green Hornets stranded a runner in the fifth, before they got a run back in the sixth.

Senior Maggie Smith led off the sixth inning with a triple and scored on a single by Sophomore Alexa Singer.

Wellsboro also got a hit by Junior Baylea Lehman in the inning, but they couldn't get another run across and after a one-out walk and steal in the seventh Junior Peyton Wilson was left stranded.

Singer led the Lady Hornets at the plate with two hits and Smith, Lehman, Junior Paige Carr, and Sophomore Sarah Ingerick added hits.

Singer walked one and struck out one, allowing five hits and five runs, three earned, in 3 1/3 innings and Senior Brooke Kohler pitched 2 2/3 innings, striking out three and walking none, while allowing two hits.

The loss ends the Lady Hornets season at 15-6 (5-5 NTL Division 1).