Roy-Hart trims N-O foe Wilson in softball sectional opener

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 22 May 2014 at 12:00 am

Barker wins in 9 innings

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Roy-Hart catcher Sam Brown puts the tag on Wilson’s Haylea Day during the host Lady Rams narrow 8-7 sectional win over the Lakewomen this afternoon at Middleport.

In a sea-saw battle, No. 6 Roy-Hart pushed across a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to nip Niagara-Orleans League foe No. 11 Wilson 8-7 this afternoon at Middleport in the pre quarterfinal round of the Section VI Class B softball playoffs.

Roy-Hart, which led 4-1 after two innings but trailed 7-5 heading into the bottom of the sixth, pulled out the victory on an RBI single by Maddi Hiddie with two out in the bottom of the seventh.

Roy-Hart, which defeated Wilson twice during the N-O season, grabbed the early 4-1 lead on a three run triple by Kayla Brown and an RBI single by Taylor Fry in the second inning.

Wilson though got back in the game on a two-run single by Alissa Dicesare in the fifth inning which cut the deficit to 4-3.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Pinch runner Lexie Lovewell crosses home plate with the winning run for Roy-Hart in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Wilson then moved into what proved to be a brief 7-5 lead by scoring four times in the top of the sixth inning on three errors, a fielders choice play, a wild pitch and just one hit.

However, Roy-Hart quickly retied the contest at 7-7 by scoring twice in the home half of the sixth on back-to-back one out RBI doubles by Kayla Brown and Ashley Bower. A single by Fry ignited the rally.

Bower, who came on in relief in the sixth inning, put Wilson down in order in the top of the seventh.

That set the stage for the Lady Rams last at bat rally. A two out single by Faye Conley started the rally and Hiddie followed up with a clutch single to right driving in the winning run advancing the Lady Rams to the quarterfinals.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Ashley Bower came on in relief for Roy-Hart in the sixth inning to help well a Wilson rally.

Roy-Hart will next host No. 14 Tonawanda, a 7-0 winner over No. 3 City Honors, in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.

Class C

Barker 3, Cassadaga Valley 2 (9)
No. 7 Barker scored a run in the bottom of the ninth inning to edge past visiting No. 10 Cassadaga Valley in a Class C opening round pitchers dual.

Heather Mason opened the bottom of the ninth with a double for Barker and quickly came home with the winning on on a single by Olivia Denny.

Denny had a total of three hits including a double.

In the circle, Barker’s Erika Moeller threw a one hitter with 11 strikeouts while Cassadaga Valley’s Alyssa Hahn struck out 14 and gave up five hits.