Bats, big inning lift Blue Devils

By Eric Hamilton

sport @vindy.com

BERLIN CENTER

A common sports cliche claims that defense wins championships. So does a good offense — especially when the defense struggles.

The Western Reserve softball team used a six-run outburst in the second inning to overcome five errors and cold, wet weather to defeat St. Thomas Aquinas 9-6 Thursday to claim its second straight Division IV district title game victory over the Knights.

The win propels the Blue Devils into the regional round, where they will meet Cortland district winner Mathews in the semifinals at 5 p.m. Thursday at Kent State University.

“We didn’t play our best defense today,” said Western Reserve coach Joe Serensky. “But that happens sometimes and the girls were able to overcome those mistakes because they wanted to win this game badly in order to get back to regionals. I think maybe since Aleah [Hughes] had all those strikeouts in the first two district games, our defense came in a little too comfortable and rusty tonight.

“But our offense got us some extra runs to work with and Aleah was able to bear down and get some key outs when we needed them. She has the mentality it takes to focus in when things aren’t going her way.”

After St. Thomas seized a 1-0 advantage in the top of the first, Western Reserve responded in a big way in the bottom of the second. The Blue Devils batted around, converting five hits, two walks and one Aquinas error into a 6-1 lead.

Maddie Krietzburg started the rally with a lead-off double off the left-field fence. She moved to third on a fielder’s choice by Alexis Miller. Abby Hemphill followed with an RBI single to tie the game at 1. She later scored on a pass ball and Arianna Gregorino made it 3-1 with a run-scoring single.

Jenny Stubbs added an RBI double and scored on an Aquinas error to increase the lead to 5-1 and chase St. Thomas starting pitcher Emily Lair. Reliever Gabby Moore was greeted by a run-scoring single from Hughes on the first pitch to make it 6-1.

The Knights cut the Western Reserve lead to 6-4 with a three-run fourth, before Hughes drove in two runs in the bottom of the frame to pad the cushion to 8-4.

Perhaps the game’s turning point came in the top of the fifth, as St. Thomas took advantage of two Blue Devil errors and a hit batsman to score twice and get within 8-6 and load the bases with only one out. But Hughes squelched the momentum by striking out the next two hitters.

Western Reserve added an insurance run in the sixth on a Hughes home run to left field.

“We knew St. Thomas was a better hitting team than we had faced previously,” said Hughes, who finished with 11 strikeouts for a total of 42 in three tournament games. “I just tried not to overthink things out there because that’s when it can become your enemy. Our offense really came together today and carried us through.”