SHELBY – Last spring Wynford caught fire in the postseason scoring 29 runs across the sectional championship and district semifinal.
And the two-seeded Royals are back at it again. Fresh off a big win over Buckeye Central in sectionals that saw them score 18 runs, they added even more in a decisive 13-2 Division VI district semifinal win over No. 3 South Central Tuesday evening.
“The bats are alive and they’re not gonna stop,” Wynford coach Chelsea Rice said.
Wasting no time at all scoring three runs in the first and two more in the second, an eight-run third inning highlighted by junior Erin Wolfe’s first career home run — it was actually a grand slam — put the game out of reach for the Trojans.
“I was just looking for a run to get on, so I guess that’s more than I expected.” Wolfe said. “It was right down the middle, so I really just swung and hoped for the best.”
The last few weeks have been somewhat of a renaissance for Wolfe who struggled at times this season on both sides of the ball.
“We moved Erin to DH because we knew Ellie (Nash) could play third or first, she has a quick glove,” Rice said. “Erin needed to focus on either offense or defense, and the bat has been hot for the last six games as everybody saw tonight, so she’ll keep (being) DH.
“It’s not a punishment … Erin’s living up to it and helping her team out. She does everything that we ask, the grand slam was just the cherry on top.”
And that mindset shift has really helped Wolfe who has six hits, six RBIs, six runs scored, and one stolen base over the last four games, coincidentally all wins.
“They told me whenever I make errors at third, I get in my head in the batter’s box,” she said. “Since they moved me to DH it has really helped with my batting … when I’m not out on the field I try to be better in the batter’s box since that’s the thing people are counting on me for.”
The Royals collected 12 hits on the day and capitalized on South Central’s three errors. Trojans coach Chad Fortune knew how dangerous his opponent could be if they started hitting.
“And we didn’t help our cause defensively,” he said. “Once they start moving, and if you’re not going to make plays to get out of it … they got eight in the third and we probably gave them five. We might have been able to get out of there with one or two, maybe it’s a different game or maybe not. (Rylee) Robinson’s really good … we just really don’t see anyone like that in the Firelands.”
Wynford’s senior ace in the circle struck out six, allowed five hits, two earned runs, and walked two while also going 1-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and a run.
“She can move the ball, she can do everything that we ask of her,” Rice said. “Even some of the things that I don’t like — shaking me off — I trust her, if she knows that she can’t throw a changeup, rise, whatever … if she can’t do it, she can’t do it. But she’ll still get the strike.”
Lily Laipply was 3-for-3 at the plate with three runs, one RBI, one walk, and three stolen bases; Briley Hildreth was 2-for-2 with two runs, one RBI, and one walk. Alivia Ritzler and Addison Sebring each had two runs scored, Ritzler also two RBIs.
“When I came on three years ago, sectionals back then were close … we had this plan and everything was gonna work, but they’re stepping it up and these seniors don’t want to be done,” Rice said. “The juniors want to show off, the sophomores and freshmen are loud and their bats are moving. I’m proud of all 17 of them whether they’re out here playing or in the dugout keeping spirits up.
“They all matter and all 17 of them want to keep going.”
And they will keep going as Wynford shifts its focus to a district championship clash with Margaretta on Thursday at Clyde High School.
“It’s just the motivation to move on as a team,” Rice said of the team’s hot start to the postseason this spring and last. “Last year we got to the regional semifinals and we really want to get back there again. It’s just a motivator to try our hardest in the box, on the field … anything just to get back there again as a team.”
While they keep going, South Central’s tournament run comes to an end, but not without a valiant effort in the fifth as Sydnee Middaugh singled to centerfield and scored Zoila Myers, followed by Viola Culler grounding out to Robinson but allowing Ember Phillips to score the Trojans’ second and final run of the night.
“We ain’t gonna die,” Fortune said. “We won’t roll over and not fight, so that’s exactly what I expected. It took us a while to get into (Robinson) as the game went on … she’s just really good.”
The loss also brings an end to the postseason careers of Ella Sanders and Mayson Middaugh.
“They’ve been here for four years. Ella started for three, Mayson started for three … they’re really the heart and soul of our team and why we didn’t give up in the fifth.”
zholden@gannett.com | 419-617-6018 | Twitter/X: @Zachary_Holden
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Wynford softball strolls past South Central into district championship