FINDLAY — North Baltimore’s softball team got the revenge it was seeking Wednesday night.
The Tigers avenged a regular-season loss to Midland Athletic League rival Carey, responding with a
convincing 8-3 win over the Blue Devils in the Division IV district semifinals at Findlay High School.

NB’s Jessica Frost pitched a complete game, striking out 11 batters, and the Tigers scored the game’s
final five runs to advance to Saturday’s district finals against Ayersville at noon in Findlay.
“Last game we did not play very well against them (Carey), and we definitely wanted this one,” Frost
said.
“I feel we play in the toughest league in this area,” NB coach Frankie Hernandez said of the MAL. “We
didn’t play very well the last time we played (against Carey). We got beat by them, 12-9, and scored six
runs on them in the seventh inning. It was just too late.
“When tournament started we started a new season,” he continued. “We’ve just got to keep playing as a
team.”
NB opened up the game’s scoring with three runs in the fourth.
A misplayed fly ball by Carey’s center fielder scored the game’s first run before Frost helped herself
with a two-out, two-run double to give the Tigers a three-run lead.
But Frost, who had cruised through the first four innings, striking out the game’s first seven batters
and not allowing a hit, ran into trouble in the fifth.
With two out and nobody on, Carey (14-11) strung together a hit and a walk before a line drive to center
field bounced off of NB’s center fielder’s glove to score two runs and cut the lead to 3-2. After two
more walks, a single by Sarah Phoenix tied the game at 3-3.
“I didn’t really have any bad thoughts in my head, I just wanted them to make sure whatever happened in
the outfield when we were on defense was over,” Hernandez said of the fifth inning. “I always tell these
guys, ‘Whatever you do it doesn’t matter. Just wipe it out and it’s over and go forward.’
“Then we had to go hit, and that’s what we did.”
Any momentum Carey may have had quickly vanished, as NB scored a run in the fifth on a double by Emily
Stewart and then put the game away with four runs in the sixth. An error by Carey’s shortstop provided
the final two runs for the Tigers.
Leadoff hitter Mackenzie Carpenter finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored, Andrea Smith finished 2-for-4
with an RBI, Frost was 1-for-2 with the double and two RBI, and Ricci Emahiser went 1-for-2 with two
runs scored to lead NB’s offense.
“We hit the ball all day. It’s a proven fact that we’re a hitting team,” said Hernandez, adding that his
team is batting .380 in MAL play this season. “I’d like to get a couple of more bunters on my team, but
who I am going to do that with?”
Despite the rough fifth inning, Frost had an otherwise solid outing. She allowed only three hits and two
earned runs, but walked six batters.
“I just kind of wasn’t in the right mindset and I got that back the next inning,” Frost said. “That’s how
I was throwing more towards the beginning of the year and I kind of had a little gray area there, but I
got it back.
“I felt good before the game, so I had a good feeling and that kind of helped with the confidence.”
NB, 17-4 overall, now faces Ayersville, which defeated Arlington, 4-2 in eight innings in Wednesday’s
other semifinal.
NB beat Ayersville earlier this season, 9-1. The game was the Tigers’ season opener.
“They played very well (against Arlington),” Hernandez said of Ayersville. “But Jessi (Frost) didn’t
pitch against them … But everybody knows the tournament brings out the best of every team. It’s win
and keep playing or lose and you’re done.”
DIVISION IV
NORTH BALTIMORE 8, CAREY 3
CAREY 000 030 0—3 3 2
NORTH BALTIMORE
000 314 X—8 9 1
BATTING LEADERS
HITS — (C) Phoenix, Ritter, Johnson; (NB) Carpenter 2, Smith 2, Boyer, Stewart, Emahiser, Frost,
Ferguson. 2B — (NB) Stewart, Frost. RUNS — (C) Ritter, H. Draper, Johnson; (NB) Carpenter 2, Emahiser 2,
Boyer, Stewart, Euler, Ferguson. RBI — (C) Phoenix; (NB) Frost 2, Stewart, Ferguson, Smith. SAC — (NB)
Boyer. LOB — Carey 5, North Baltimore 5.
PITCHING SUMMARY
IP H R ER BB SO
Carey
Rymer 3 2-3 4 3 0 2 1
Smalley (LP) 1 1-3 2 2 2 3 2
Rymer 1 3 3 1 0 0
Smalley pitched to two patters in the sixth.
North Baltimore
IP H R ER BB SO
Frost (WP) 7 3 3 2 6 11