Softball - Norwin vs Yough

Norwin softball, down to last out, scores twice to win 6-5 over Yough 

No matter how bleak it looks, it's never over until the last out is recorded. Trailing Yough by a run and facing two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Norwin used a single, a Yough error, and another single to score twice, beating the Lady Cougars 6-5 in walk-off fashion on Friday, May 4, at Norwin High School. 

Defense ruled early in the game, with both teams sending only 10 batters to the plate over three innings. The bats came to life in the fourth inning when Hannah Christner tripled to drive in Aubrie Mance and Kaylyn Odelli and give Yough a 2-0 lead. Christner scored on an error following a Sammie McGhee single to left field, giving the Cougars a 3-0 lead as Norwin came to bat. The fourth inning was the wake up call for the Knights' bats too, as Alex Brentzel's double drove in Megan Miller and put Norwin on the scoreboard. After Brentzel was retired in a rundown at third, Victoria Shimko scored on a single by Carly Cook. Cook would score to tie the game 3-3 after tagging on a fly out by Alex Dillner. Yough went back on top in the fifth when Hannah Bach scored on a single by Nina Maroney. The bats settled down again and Yough took their 4-3 lead into the bottom of the sixth before Norwin tied it on a towering solo home run to center field by Alex Brentzel. Yough loaded the bases in the seventh with one out, and Norwin looked to get out of the jam when Kaylyn Odelli flew out to right field. But a two-out walk forced home Hannah Bach before a groundout ended the threat with Yough leading 5-4 into the final half frame. A fly out, an Alex Dillner single, and a pop out had the Lady Knights down a run and facing their last out. Makenzie Mihalko's single to left brought the Knights back into the game when an error allowed Dillner to score. Then, with Mihalko on third, Megan Miller punched a single into left field and gave Norwin the two-out comeback victory over the Lady Cougars.

Heavy wind gusts caused several short delays as blowing dust affected vision in the infield. Alex Brentzel's bat was big for Norwin, with her double and game-tying home run leading to two RBIs. Victoria Shimko and Megan Miller also had two hits for the Lady Knights. Yough spread their offense around with 8 players recording a hit, including triples for Hannah Bach and Hannah Christner. Christner also picked up a pair of RBIs. Victoria Shimko picked up the win on the mound for Norwin, with Karlie Clark pitching the complete game in the loss for Yough.    

Watch this link for a full gallery of action photos available for purchase or sharing the day after the game.