Cleveland Sac Bunt Leads To Game-Winning, 9-8 Win, Over Troy

By: Ed Weaver  /  April 9, 2026  /  Photo: Matt Stevens

Tied at 8-all, a sacrifice bunt by senior Harleigh Cleveland led to a Mazie Johnson game-winning run in the bottom of the 7th as the Wellsboro Varsity Softball team edged Troy 9-8 Wednesday afternoon.

Johnson walked on four pitches to lead off the inning to bring up Cleveland. After a called 1st strike, Cleveland squared around for the sac bunt, pulling in the corners, pitcher and catcher. Cleveland dropped a perfect bunt, which Troy's 1st baseman picked up, but an errant throw ended up in right field, allowing Johnson to come all away around to cross home plate for the game's winning run.

Prior to that Troy's Sydnee Bellows scored in the top of the 7th to knot the game up at 8-all.

The Lady Hornets took an early lead in the bottom of the 1st as freshman Haylie Smith led off by reaching on a error. She later scored on a single to center by freshman Gena Fleming.

Troy scored twice in the top half of the 2nd to take the lead, however Wellsboro played three runs, one by Johnson, Smith and sophomore Rylee Coolidge to retake the lead at 4-2. Troy cut the lead down to 4-3 with a run in the top of the 3rd, then after hold the Lady Hornets scoreless in the bottom half of the inning, scored twice in the top of the 4th to go back in front, 5-4.

Coolidge scored in the bottom of the 4th, after hitting into a fielder's choice after Smith led off with a walk, tying the game back up at 5-all. Later in the 5th, sophomore Delaney Morral singled and later scored, putting the Lady Hornets back in front at 6-5.

In the 6th Troy went back in front with a pair of runs, retaking the lead at 7-6. Wellsboro countered in the bottom of the inning with runs by Smith and sophomore Adelyn Frantz, putting the Lady Hornets up 8-7 heading into the 7th.

Morral led the Lady Hornets at the plate, going 3-for-4. Frantz and Fleming both finished 2-for-4 with RBIs, with Frantz hitting a double. Coolidge and sophomore Kaylee Frazier were both 1-for-4 with Coolidge driving in 2 runs.

Frantz threw a complete game, allowing 3 hits to go along with 14 strikeouts and 7 walks.

Haidyn Watson went the distance on the mound for Troy, giving up 9 hits with 2 walks and 5 strikeouts. Izzy Renzi, Watson and Maddyson Muir had the three hits for Troy.

The Lady Hornets improve to 3-3 overall and 2-3 in the NTL Large School Division. The team is back in action this afternoon at Sayre.