CASSTOWN — Benjamin Logan’s softball team was one defensive out away from winning a district championship here Friday, but some tough breaks resulted in a heartbreaking eight-inning loss.
The Raiders held a 2-1 lead over Taylor going into the top of the seventh inning and had the Yellow Jackets down to their final out with runners on second and third.
But Taylor scored the tying run on a wild pitch and the Yellow Jackets would go on to add a go-ahead run in the top of the eighth inning to edge the Raiders 3-2 in a Division II district title game at Miami East High School.
“It’s tough, but you just have to remind the girls that they need to flush the negative and focus on the positive things, both from today and from throughout the season,” said Ben Logan head coach Amanda Davis. “The girls have to remember the great season they had and that they earned an opportunity to still be playing when a lot of teams are done for the season.”
With Taylor’s Camrynn Linneman and Ben Logan’s Kyah Moore battling it out in the pitching circle, it was a tight, edge of your seat thriller from the start Friday.
The Raiders came up with a big clutch home run in the bottom of the third inning take a 2-0 lead.
With Keeli Rostorfer — who was inserted into the lineup for starter Elliott Bailey after Bailey hurt her hand in the first inning — on first base after getting an infield single, Plikerd drilled a blast over the center-field fence off Linneman, an all-Ohio standout who has committed to play at the University of Dayton.
“First off, Keeli Rostorfer was huge for us,” said Davis. “She was a junior varsity player this year, but we needed her to come in and fill Elliott’s spot after she got hurt.
“For Keeli to get on base like that and then Jillian stepping up with that home run, it was huge for us.”
Plikerd’s homer was nearly enough offense for the Raiders to win, but Taylor scratched out a run in the fourth to make it 2-1, and the Yellow Jackets then manufactured the tying run in the seventh to knot the score.
“We just had a couple of defensive plays that didn’t go our way, and you have that sometimes,” said Davis. “But the girls played their hearts out.”
In the top of the eighth, Taylor (20-5) put the leadoff batter, Morgan Raugh, on with a walk.
The next batter then grounded out to third, advancing Raugh to second with one out.
After a flyout for the second out of the inning, Taylor’s Anna Prosser delivered an RBI single to plate Raugh and give the Yellow Jackets a 3-2 lead.
In the Raiders’ half of the eighth, a strikeout and groundout began the frame.
Kenzee Roseburrough reached base on a single up the middle to keep hope alive for the Raiders, but a groundout to third ended the Raiders’ season.
Ben Logan finishes with a record of 18-8.
With the loss, Davis had to say a final good bye to a stellar senior class, which includes Bailey, Moore, Plikerd, Rhea Harner and Roseburrough.
“These seniors have meant so much to us,” said Davis. “They are so much more than just softball players. They have been tremendous role models for the younger girls and they are leaving a lasting legacy.”
TAYLOR 3, Ben Logan 2
(EIGHT INNINGS)
Jackets 000 100 11 — 3 4 1
Raiders 002 000 00 — 2 5 3
WP—Linneman; LP—Moore.