RAIDERS BRING THE POWER TO POLAND
POLAND OH- When Poland and South Range get together on the softball diamond, you can always expect a wild matchup. The two rivals have been battling each back and forth since the start of the NE8. In the latest edition, the Raiders came out on top of a tug of war matchup 11-8 to stay undefeated in the conference.
The Raiders started the game with typical Raider offense. All season the name of their game has been get ‘em on get ‘em over. In the first inning Keira Brogan led off the game with a base hit. Then, back to back hits from Jayli Wilt and Anna Aey put South Range on the board first. Solena DeJesus came into the night with 9 RBI this week, she knocked in 2 more to make it 4-0.
The game stayed that way until the bottom of the 5th when the game took an offensive turn. Poland started the elevation in scoring as a single and two walks loaded the bases. Then back to back hits from their two seniors Mary Brant and Leanne Williams tied up the game at 4-4.
South Range struck back in a hurry coming to the plate in the sixth and using 3 home runs to spark a 4 run inning. Heidi Bartels led off the frame with a bomb, Brogsn followed her up in the next at bat, then Anna Aey hit one for good measure. The Raiders had their second 4 run frame of the day.
Poland however wasn’t phased. They responded in the bottom with another four run inning thanks to two more big hits from Brant and Williams. The game that seemed at a standstill a few innings ago was all of the sudden tied up at 8-8.
The Raiders came up in the 7th looking for one more spark and with two outs they got it. Aey socked a 2 out double to score two runs, and then Wilt knocked her home to make it 11-8. Poland put a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the 7th but a Wilt strikeout ended the game and gave the Raiders the win.
For the Raiders offense Aey led the way in runs driven in going 3-4 with a HR 3 RBI. Wilt went 3-5 with a pair of RBI. DeJesus continued her hot week with a two hit day and a pair of RBI. Heidi Bartels went 3-4 with a HR and 1 RBI. Keira Brogan had the most hits in the Raider lineup going 4-5 with a HR and 1 RBI. She scored 3 runs.
Wilt struck out 7 on the day in the circle. She did give up 11 hits and 8 runs but never gave up the Raider lead. She threw 141 pitches on the night.
Poland’s offense was led by their two seniors Brant and Williams. They both went 2-4 with RBI. Leanna Boccieri also had 2 hits on the day going 2-3 with 2 walks and 2 runs scored. Eliana Thompson went 1-2 with 2 walks and 2 runs scored. Cassie Blanch went 1-3 with a walk and a run scored.
South Range has a Saturday double header on tap as they’ll go to Stow and play the Bulldogs along with Talllmadge. Poland has to bounce back quick as they welcome in Canfield on Friday in the battle of 224.
