WARRIORS SWAT THE HORNETS

The game unfolded as a tense affair, with both teams locked in a scoreless stalemate until the bottom of the second inning, when Faith Vencill ignited the Edgewood offense with a clutch single to right field, driving in McKenna Rhodes, who had reached base earlier with a walk.

As the game progressed, Edgewood continued to assert their dominance, with Rhodes playing a starring role once again in the bottom of the fourth. Her single, coupled with impressive base running that saw her steal both second and third base, set the stage for Avery Vencill to deliver a pivotal RBI single to extend Edgewood’s lead.

But the Warriors weren’t done yet. Gianna Ianetta’s sharp ground ball to third base drove in two more runs, with Avery Vencill and Addison Lamson crossing home plate to bolster Edgewood’s advantage. Lucianna Paolillo added to the onslaught with a timely single to center field, driving in Ianetta and Faith Vencill, propelling Edgewood to a commanding 7-0 lead by the end of the fourth inning.

However, Kirtland refused to go down without a fight, mounting a spirited comeback bid in the top of the fifth. Gianna Difranco’s single to left field sparked the rally, driving in Carly Difranco, followed by Maggie Kothura’s double to center field that plated Addison Fleming and Gianna Difranco, cutting Edgewood’s lead to 7-3.

Despite Kirtland’s resurgence, Edgewood maintained their composure, responding with two more runs in the bottom of the fifth. Faith Vencill’s run on a ground out and Natalie Ianetta’s RBI single extended Edgewood’s lead to 9-3, putting the game seemingly out of reach.

Although Kirtland managed to tack on two more runs in the top of the seventh, Edgewood’s Makenna Vencill stood firm on the mound, striking out the final batter to seal the victory for her team.

The stat sheet reflected Edgewood’s dominance, with the Warriors tallying 10 hits compared to Kirtland’s 6. Faith Vencill emerged as a standout performer, going a perfect 2 for 2 at the plate with two runs scored and one RBI, while Addison Lampson contributed two hits of her own along with a run scored and an RBI.

On the pitching front, Makenna Vencill earned the win for Edgewood, showcasing her skill with five strikeouts over three innings of work, while Lucianna Paolillo delivered a solid start, tallying six strikeouts over four innings.

Graci Mastrangelo displayed resilience on the mound for Kirtland, pitching the entire game despite the tough outing.

Coach Randy Vencill when asked about his upcoming match with West Branch was stated  “We’ll have have to play some small-ball and we’re going to have to execute, as they are a very good team.”  Also acknowledging that they still have a showdown next week against Madison, that will decide the CVC Lake Division title.

With this impressive victory under their belts, the Edgewood Warriors took their record to 14 – 3, and reaffirmed their status as a force to be reckoned with in the world of high school softball, leaving their opponents in awe and their fans cheering for more.  The Warriors will take on the 14 – 6 West Branch Warriors on Thursday in the second round of the OHSAA state division II tournament.  Kirtland’s next scheduled game is at Berkshire on Friday, when they take on the Badgers.