Warriors finish with a flurry; Senecas edged 2-1

BOWLING GREEN – At the regional stage, there's going to be some quality pitching.That was no exception Wednesday in a Division VII regional semifinal doubleheader at Bowling Green State University.In the first game, Hilltop and Mohawk were scoreless for four innings, while the Ayersville-Calvert matchup only saw seven combined hits and three runs. Quite the difference from the district round with hits left and right.One hit was the difference as the Pilots slipped by Calvert 2-1 in the nightcap, while one inning was the difference in a thrilling comeback for Mohawk in a 10-4 win.The Pilots (18-4) and Warriors (23-5) will meet back at BGSU Friday at 5 p.m. for a regional title.After five scoreless innings from both Hilltop (26-4) and Mohawk, the Cadets finally broke through in the bottom of the fifth. Sophie Graham drew a one-out walk, Halle Jones lined a single to center, Kelsy Connolly then drew a walk and with two outs, Sophia Crossgrove delivered a bases-clearing double to left.Mohawk did get a run back in the sixth as Mallory Brickner doubled and then Katie Woodland drove her in with a double down the left field line. But after Hilltop added an insurance run in the bottom-half of the sixth, the Warriors – faced with a similar situation in the district final against New Riegel – was down to their final three outs of the season. With the in mind, the Warriors delivered again … in a big way. The Warriors battled back to plate nine runs in the top of the seventh as they belted eight hits in the frame.Out of all the hits, the big ones were a two-run single up the middle from Emily Brickner, back-to-back bunt singles from Blake Miller and Anna Russell that drove in runs and a bases-clearing triple from Trenna Johnson that really opened things up."I guess we like to come back in the seventh inning with a vengeance here in the postseason, but what a way to step up for our seniors, who is in the bottom of our lineup and what a way for them to not want their season to be over," Warriors coach Mindy Walton said. "It was great to see us battle against their first pitcher, hit consistently off the second and then keep it going."They just always keep themselves up and they're battlers. They don't want it to be over yet, they know the huge potential we have here and they just keep it going."Even after the huge inning, Hilltop had the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, but the Cadets couldn't get another run across.Even though the Cadets got to Gottfried a bit in the circle, the sensational sophomore remained calm and found a way to close the door in the seventh. She allowed all four runs on seven hits, but did strike out 13 and walk five in a complete game. "Her mental side has just come so far this year," Walton said of Gottfried. "Just working through an at-bat, having bases loaded and then we get the last two outs. She comes with a lot of confidence in her defense too. She knows if they put the ball in play that the girls behind her will get it done. They compliment each other so well."Emily Brickner finished with three hits, while Mallory Brickner, Woodland, Johnson and Allison Russell all had two hits for Mohawk.Hits were a little harder to come by in the second game as Ayersville's Kendra Waldron and Calvert freshman Ava Eilrich were both dealing in the circle. After two scoreless innings to begin the matchup, Calvert (23-5) finally broke through in the third.Sofia Lee started the inning off with a bloop single to right field, followed by consecutive walks from Kaleigh Concepcion and Addie Endicott. With the bases juiced and no one out, Scarlett Faber laid down a bunt. Lee was thrown out at home, but on the throw to try to get a double play at first, Concepcion broke for home and slid safely to beat the tag. But Calvert's rally in the inning came to an end, leaving runners on third and second. Then the hit of the game came in the bottom of the third as No. 9 hitter Miki Shreve blasted a two-run shot to left field, giving the Pilots a 2-1 advantage, which was all Waldron needed to top Calvert."Yes, this game was regionals, but this team put Calvert softball back on the map," Senecas coach Leah Bouillon said. "It hasn't been on the map for a long, long time. They've done a lot of historic things this year, but when it comes to this game today, you saw a great Calvert softball team go up there show respect, show respect for the other team and they battled really hard. That's all I can ask for and I'm really proud of them."Waldron allowed just four hits in seven innings and fanned 10. Eilrich took the tough loss, giving up those two runs on three hits in six innings. She struck out eight and walked only one."Ava did a fantastic job in the circle today. If you'd ask her what her favorite position is, she's not going to say pitcher, but she's a team-player kid," Bouillon said. "She went into this game in the hardest position on the field in one of the most intense games this program has ever been in and she gets to look at her co-partner behind the plate in Gracie Miller, and those two really have done a fantastic job together and we can't wait to see them grow."Alyssa Rishty doubled in the first inning for Calvert, while Miller and Endicott each singled."I'm super excited about these juniors we have because they have the opportunity to continue something great underneath their leadership," Bouillon said. "We lost in a sectional final in a 2-1 game last year in which we weren't having a successful season and it turned over a new leaf, so I'm excited to see what this game will do in turning over a new leaf for our program. "This will be a season that will be marked down in the history books for Calvert softball and I could not be prouder to be a part of it."