Banes, Jr. Wilson 1 advance in ‘A’ playoffs

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 10 August 2021 at 1:57 pm

Banes and Jr. Wilson 1, which finished 1-2 during the Medina Women’s Softball League ‘A’ Division regular season, scored playoff wins Monday evening to advance to Saturday’s winners bracket final.

Banes nipped White Birch 10-9 and Jr. Wilson I downed Bent Opera 11-6.

Banes and Jr.Wilson 1 will meet in the winners bracket final at 10 a.m. Saturday at Jr. Wilson.The championship game is slated for 1:15 p.m. with a second game if necessary at 2:30 p.m.

Banes nipped Jr. Wilson 1 10-8 in 8 innings a week ago to close out the regular season.

Banes 10, White Birch 9

Banes built up a 7-3 lead after four innings ignited by a big five run opening frame on singles by Connie Heschke, Sue Seefeldt, Jen Masse, Amy Allis, Lindsay Chatt and a double by Jamie Chatt.

However, White Birch battled back to take a 9-7 lead by erupting for six runs in the top of the sixth inning on hits by Maddy Foster, Liz Bailey, Jena Riemer, Becka Hoffee, Aubrey Lewis, Anna Lewis, Kenzi Muck and Mallory Albone.

Banes though answered with two runs in the home half of the inning on hits by Jen Masse, Robin Blaun, Rileigh McCabe, Amy Allis and Lindsay Chatt to knot the contest at 9-9.

Banes held White Birch scoreless in the top of the seventh and then tallied one in the home half of the frame to claim a narrow 10-9 win. Singles by Morgan Allis and Grace Masse set up the threat and a single by Heschke drove in the game winner.

Jr. Wilson 1 11, Bent Opera 6

Jr Wilson scored three quick runs in the bottom of the first on singles by Jacyln Guzdek, Sara Flansburg and Justine Daniels.

Adding to their lead, Jr. Wilson’s scored three more in the second on two walks and singles from Guzdek and Jodi Zacher.

Bents answered back with three runs in the top of the third with singles from Melissa Prince and Amy Jessmer.

However, Jr. Wilson pulled away with a big third inning. Michelle Crandall led off with a double followed by singles from Connie Hornquist, Jessica Rosenbeck and Penny Roath. Jodi Zacher drove in a run doubling to left field to lock up the win.

Cathy Schmidt added a 2-run triple for Bents to threaten, but Bents could not score any more.

Zacher, Flansburg, Crandall all finished with 2 hits.