Banes surges back to capture ‘A’ Division playoff championship

Contributed Photo – Banes celebrates capturing the Medina Women’s Softball League ‘A’ Division playoff championship Saturday. In front are Sue Seefeldt, Jessica Carpenter, Connie Heschke and Alisha Foss. In the middle row are Jenny Odessa and her daughter Charlotte, Robin Blaun and Danielle Erway. In back are Coach Ryan, Donna Bane, Kathy Quackenbush, Coach Bruce Seefeldt, Jenn Masse and Patty Page. Missing from the photo are Cathy Allen, Jamie Chatt and Kristin Guild.

Rebounding from a pair of day opening defeats, Banes bounced back to score five straight victories Saturday and capture the Medina Women’s Softball League ‘A’ Division playoff championship.

Banes lost two straight to Jr. Wilson 1 to open the day, 18-5 in a position round game and then 13-3 in the opening round of the playoffs.

Bouncing back, Banes rattled off three straight losers bracket wins, 14-3 over O’Brien’s, 19-2 over Albion Vets and 4-3 over regular season league champion Orleans Vets.

Banes used a marathon 13 run sixth inning to lock up the win over Albion Vets highlighted by a bases clearing three-run single by Robin Blaun.

Trailing 3-1, Banes then rallied for three runs in the sixth inning to nip Orleans Vets and gain a berth in the finals. Connie Heschke, Jen Masse, Blaun and Kathy Quackenbush all had singles and Cathy Allen a double to key that decisive rally.

Banes then avenged the two earlier losses by defeating Jr. Wilson 1 twice in the finals by scores of 6-3 and 6-1 to claim the championship.

In the first title round contest, Banes used a four run third inning to key the win as Heschke, Blaun, Quackenbush, Danielle Erway, Jenny Odessa and Alisha Foss all had singles and Masse a double.

In the second and title deciding contest, Banes scored twice in both the second and fourth innings to take the lead for good.

Quackenbush, Erway, Odessa and Foss all had hits in the second as did Donna Bane, Foss, Odessa and Quackenbush in the fourth.

Foss had a total of 3 hits as Quackenbush and Odessa both had 2.

Blaun was the winning pitcher while Heschke anchored the defense from her shortstop position turning several double plays on the day.