Lady Hornets knock off defending state champs, reach District final

By: Ed Weaver  /  May 27, 2015

The Wellsboro Varsity Softball team knocked off defending state champion Central Columbia 5-4 to advance to the District IV championship on Tuesday, May 26.

"It wasn't pretty but we got it done," said head coach Greg Carr. "I'm really happy for the seniors. They have had so much experience. Our high school team is our travel ball team. They have 300-400 games under their belt from travel ball. This is not by mistake."

The Lady Hornets started off the game with a walk by Junior Jenny Young. Freshman Alyssa Yungwirth later reached base on an error by Central's short stop and Young would tie the game on an error by the first baseman.

In the second inning the Lady Hornets added two more runs. Junior Darci Warriner walked to lead off the inning, followed by Young reaching on error and a Yungwirth walk. Then, Junior Sarah Ingerick doubled to left field with two outs to would score Warriner and Young to give Wellsboro a 3-1 lead.

"She (Sarah) has been getting robbed here lately with great swings of the bat," said Carr. "Like today, she put one out to right center and the girl made a heck of a play. The last few games she has just been roping it and it's been finding someone's glove. I was happy to see a ball finally got through, she was happy about it."

Central Columbia would score once in the fourth and would tie the game up at 3-3 in the sixth inning. The defending state champs would then take a 4-3 lead in the top of the seventh, but Wellsboro kept their cool and delivered in the bottom half of the inning.

Senior Peyton Wilson hit a double down the left field line to reach base, and would score on a triple from Young to tie the game at 4-4. Yungwirth then reached base on an error that allowed Young to score to give the Lady Hornets the 5-4 victory and their first ever trip to a District IV title game.

Wilson has struggled as of late as she has gone hitless the last six games, but came through and delivered when the team needed her.

"Like our coaches have always said we have been in those positions whether it is travel league or high school ball, we know how to handle those situations," Wilson said.

"Peyton had been struggling for a while. It was my choice to leave her in there," continued Carr. "If you take and throw a freshman in there that doesn't have the same experience you probably aren't going to get the same result. Even if the senior has been struggling for a while she's just that time you spent it has to be a lot more beneficial for you going into those circumstances to come through."

Young was 1-for-3 on the night with an RBI and triple, Ingerick was 1-for-3 with 2 RBI's and a double, Senior Baylea Lehman was 1-for-3, and Wilson was 1-for-3 with a double.

Junior Alexa Singer started on the mound and pitched the first five innings and struck out two batters for a no decision. Yungwirth came on in relief for the final two innings with four walks and a strikeout for collect her ninth win of the year.

Both pitchers, according to Carr were nervous coming into the game.

"This was as nervous as I've seen Alyssa. Alexa felt the nerves to," concluded Carr. "I could tell she wasn't as sharp and poppy as she ususually is. But if you can get in the fourth or fifth inning and bring in our freshman than you have another pitcher showing a different look to their hitters. If we can get to that point in the game and still have a chance I didn't mind putting in the other pitcher."

With the win, the Lady Hornets improve to 20-2 overall and will now play Milton on Thursday, May 28 at Moser Complex in Watsontown for the District IV Class AA championship.