The Tinora Lady Rams scored early and often as they captured their second straight District Finals Championship, defeating Eastwood 14-4 in 5 innings.
After knocking off the knocking off the #1 seeded Oak Harbor Rockets on Wednesday, Tinora, the #3 seed, got things rolling in the first inning as they would score three runs, grabbing an early 3-0 lead over the #2 seeded Eagles.
The Lady Rams lead-off hitter Anna Frazer singled to start the game and the Ram train was off and running. After two infield errors by the Eagles put Frazer at third, and Logan McQuillin at first, up stepped Tinora freshman Paige Gamby.
Gamby would send the 2-0 pitch by Eagles starter Cassi Kieper deep over the left field fence for a three-run homerun, giving the Rams an early 3-0 lead.
The Tinora bats would explode in the top of the second. The Lady Rams would send 13 hitters to the plate, scoring seven runs, grabbing a 10-0 lead. The Eastwood Eagles would commit three errors in the inning, aiding the Lady Rams attack.
Tinora shortstop Tegan Norden, who would reach safely two times in the inning, would reach on an error to start the avalanche of runs. Anna Frazer, who would also reach safely twice in the inning, would be hit on the elbow, putting runners at first and second. Maren Pittman would then single to load the bases. McQuillin’s single plated Norden, giving the Rams a 4-0 lead.
Gamby, who would also reach safely two times in the inning, more later on that, reached on another infield error, scoring Pittman, putting the Lady Rams on top 5-0. Paige Carpenter reached on another error by the Eagles, scoring McQuillin, and increasing the Tinora lead to 6-0 in the second.
Zoe Roesti would get in on the action, singling to right, scoring Gamby, the Lady Rams led 8-0. After a strikeout, and a double steal by Carpenter and Roesti, Tegan Norden would single, scoring two, giving Tinora a 10-0 lead after two innings.
Tinora would add four more in the top of the third inning, highlighted was Paige Gamby’s second homerun. After a McQuillin single, Gamby sent this one to center field, putting Tinora on top 12-0.
Tinora’s Scylea Zolman would hit her third homerun in two days, this one a two-run shot, scoring Zoesti who singled, putting Tinora ahead 14-0 through three innings.
Scylea Zolman didn’t allow her first hit until the fourth inning. Elmwood would put two on the board in the bottom of that fourth, cutting the Tinora lead to 14-2. McKenzie Hady’s double to the wall would score both Delaney Maynard, who singled, and Addison Bowe who reached on an error.
Elmwood would add another two runs in the bottom of the fifth, cutting the Tinora lead to 14-4.
Lily Escobedo singled to start the fifth for the Eagles, she would score on a double off the bat of Delaney Maynard, and the Eagles trailed 14-3. Addison Bowe’s single to right would score Maynard, but Tinora still had a 14-4 advantage.
Zolman would retire the next two Eagles, sending Tinora to its second consecutive District Championship.
The Lady Rams have a 4-0 record at Blue Devil’s Field over the last two postseasons.
Paige Gamby reached base four times, scoring three runs, hitting two homers, and had fie runs batted in.
Zolman picked up win 15 on the season for the Lady Rams.
Coach Fairchild improved his two-year record to 37-11 in the green and white.
The Lady Rams improve to 18-7 and will play the Huron Tigers on Wednesday, May 24 at 5 pm.
Location: 900 W Perry in Bucyrus, Ohio. Jack Hewitt Field
Eastwood sees their season end at 26-4.
The Higbea Embroidery Player of the Game went to Paige Gamby, great job, Paige!
Pics below from Lady Rams softball page:
https://www.facebook.com/tinoraramssoftball
