Lady Rams 3 Eastwood 1

SPRINGFIELD – In what must have felt like a déjà vu moment for coach Fairchild and the Lady Rams, sophomore Scylea Zolman stepped up to the plate in the fifth inning with a chance to give Tinora a lead, but more on this later.

In a matchup of top three seeds, the #3 seeded Lady Rams of Tinora traveled to Springfield High School to take on the #2 seeded Eastwood Eagles. The Lady Rams entered at 17-3, while the Lady Eagles entered at 21-5.

Tinora Head Coach Fairchild sent his sensational sophomore pitcher Scylea Zolman to the hill, Zolman entered with a 16-1 mark this season, her lone loss was to Otsego was back on April 8, a 10-0 loss. Eastwood sent Cassi Kieper, another great sophomore pitcher, against a Lady Rams lineup averaging over eight runs a game.

Zolman came in with 198 strikeouts on the season. Scylea would get #200 for the year in the bottom of the second inning.

Eastwoood would strike first, scoring an unearned run in the bottom of the third inning. Adyson Bowe would walk, steal second base, and score on an error by the Lady Rams infield. Eastwood would take that 1-0 lead to the fourth.

Tinora would look to tie the game in the fourth. The Lady Rams first two batters would reach to start the frame. Zolman would walk, while Logan McQuillin would reach via error. Tinora’s Paige Carpenter would send a rocket to center field, unfortunately for Tinora, Eastwood center fielder Jessica Smith would come one and scoop the Carpenter liner off her shoe tops, resulting in an Eastwood double play. Tinora would not score in the fourth, Eastwood still held the 1-0 lead.

Still scoreless and with just three hits through four innings, the Lady Rams looked to awake the bats, and that they did in the top of the fifth inning. As in the previous inning, the first two Tinora hitters would reach. This time, Anna Frazier would single, and Tegan Norden would walk, setting the stage for Zolman.

After working the count to 3-0, Zolman had the green light to swing, and swing she did. The sophomore would send a drive deep over the center field wall, giving Tinora 3-1 lead.

As far as her pitching, Scylea didn’t see her usual high strikeout numbers, but the Lady Rams defense was behind her all night.

Tinora second baseman Logan McQuillin with another highlight in the bottom of the seventh, snagging a soft liner that appeared headed to right field. McQuillin with a dive snagged the liner for the second out in the seventh. Zolman would send the Eagles down in order, sending the Lady Rams to the District Finals against nemesis Otsego.

Otsego again is the #1 seen in the DIV III Holland bracket.
The Otsego Knights knocked off Evergreen, 7-1 in the early game.

Otsego and All Ohio starter Lexi North Handed the Rams 10-0 loss earlier in the season. North and the Knights also ended Tinora’s season last year, an 11-0 win over the Lady Rams in the Sectional Finals.

The Higbea Embroidery Player of the Game went to Lady Rams Scylea Zolman. Zolman would pick up win #17, pitching a one hitter, striking out five, walking six. Scylea with another three run homerun.

Another great job by Scylea!!
Tinora improves to 18-3.

The Lady Rams are back vs Otsego Friday at 5 pm at Springfield HS. At hand, the District Championship.

Eastwood bows out at 21-6.