Madison Amstutz attempts to lay down a bunt during the Division III Central District championship game against Bishop Ready. Amstutz hit a walk-off home run in the fifth inning to beat Ready, 11-1.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
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The North Union Lady Cats’ softball battles with Bishop Ready have become almost legendary.
The two teams have met 10 times in the district finals and the Lady Cats were able to pull the series even at 5-5 with an 11-1 run-rule win in five innings to win the Division III Central District championship on Friday.
The Lady Cats have had solid pitching and lively bats this season and the district title game was no different.
NU loaded the bases early when Avery Clark earned a base on balls.
Kennedy Ruhl plated the first runs of the game when she found a pitch that she laced up the middle of the field for a two-RBIs single before the Silver Knights could get out of the inning.
North Union head coach Dawn Draper said the early runs allowed her team to relax and get into the groove of the game.
“When we came out 2-0 early, the kids started to relax a little bit and you can take a chance,” she said.
Madison Wedding was inside the circle for North Union and gave up only one run, while notching four strikeouts and yielding just three hits.
The Silver Knights’ lone run came in the second inning when Ashley Muraco hit a homer over the left field fence and put the game at 2-1 (NU’s favor) after two innings.
The dinger didn’t cause the senior pitch to waiver as she followed the home run with a strikeout to get out of the inning.
“We gave up that dinger, but it didn’t stop Maddy,” said Draper. “She is unbelievable and she is unstoppable on the mound right now. She is so in her zone it is unbelievable.”
The Lady Cats really stretched their legs on the base paths in the third, as Abby Davis led off with a bunt single.
Madison Amstutz reached on a fielder’s choice that didn’t pan out for the Silver Knights.
Clark drew another walk to load the bases.
Maddison Ruhl hit a hot shot to the shortstop that scored a run.
NU continued to score during the inning with a squeeze play when Regan Martino put down a bunt and brought in Amstutz for another run.
In doing so, the Lady Cats increased their lead to 6-1.
Wedding continued to keep the Silver Knight bats at bay with the help of some solid fielding.
Inside the batter’s box, the Lady Cats pulled in another run in the fourth inning.
However, the nail in the Bishop Ready coffin came in the fifth inning.
The Lady Cats took a 7-1 lead into the inning.
Martino led off the frame with a free pass to first.
Wedding laid down a slap hit that drew in the corners and left second base wide open for Martino to advance unchallenged and Wedding to reach safely.
Kori Marvin moved both runners with a sacrifice bunt, putting Josie Duncan at the plate.
Duncan put a ball up the middle for an RBI single to put the game at 8-1.
After a Davis strikeout for the second out of the inning, Amstutz stepped to the plate and ended the game with one swing of the bat.
She hit a ball high and deep over the left field fence for a three-run, walk-off home run to run rule the Silver Knights.
For Draper, there was only one word to express the victory.
“Revenge. . . we know we are a better team,” she said. “We have our team this year, unlike last year with a lot of injuries. We knew it was our year; we had to do it.”
The Lady Cats now move on to the regional semifinals where they will face West Liberty Salem.
West Liberty won its district championship on Friday with an 8-3 win over Madison Senior.
Even with the pressure of the tournament heating up, Draper says her Lady Cats are ready for the challenge.
“We have been here before,” she said. “My seniors have been here and take that relaxed approach and tell everybody ‘do what they do best.’
“That is Lady Cat softball,” said Draper. “They are great mentors. They show by body language and they are leaders in every way.”
The Lady Cats will play the Lady Tigers at Wright State University with a scheduled time of 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
BR 0 1 0 0 0 1 3 1
NU 2 0 4 1 4 (11) (10) 2
WP- Wedding, 5IP
LP- Lofferty, 4 2/3 IP