By Yaneek Smith
Special to the Sentinel-Tribune
GENOA — During was a classic pitchers’ duel between Otsego and Genoa, Mackenzie Shirkey’s triple in the 10th inning was enough to score Ava Weaver and account for the lone run in the Knights’ 1-0 win over the Comets.
Shirkey lined the first pitch she saw off Kaylin Shields to deep right field near the line that was just out of Jada Jerew’s reach, and Weaver was able to score easily.
But Genoa loaded the bases in the bottom half before Riley Rowe struck out Jerew to end the game.
Mya Golden led off with a bunt that was thrown by the catcher, Aubrey Hartman, and hit Golden helmet before sailing to the side before Golden made it to second base.
Rowe struck out Makayla Magrum before Kylee Pennington reached on a bunt single to the catcher, moving Golden to third. Rowe struck out Izzy West and Shields was intentionally walked before Rowe struck out Jerew looking.
The win puts Otsego at 5-4 and 1-1 in the Northern Buckeye Conference, a big win following its 7-1 loss yesterday to Maumee.
The coach of the Knights, Jason Colyer, said Rowe was brilliant, coming up with a number of key strikeouts and keeping the Comets off the board.
“I’d like to give a shout out to Riley Rowe and (catcher) Aubrey Hartman,” said Colyer. “Our defense made a lot of plays, too. They were locked in. The dugout energy picked us up.”
Shirkey, who plays left field, had a bunt single in the third, grounded out in the sixth and struck out in the eighth before coming through with the game’s biggest hit.
“I was just thinking, get ahead early and put the ball in play,” said Shirkey. “I know she was throwing middle and up, and my approach was to swing if it was there. If not, lay off it.”
Colyer talked about Shirkey’s approach at the plate.
“She struggled a little bit early on. The more you see a pitcher can help. She fouled off a lot of pitches in her earlier at-bats,” said Colyer. “She found a way to get one for us.”
Rowe allowed no runs on just two hits, struck out 17, hit one batter, walked three and didn’t give up a hit until the fifth.
“I just try to stay calm (out there). I know my defense is behind me,” she said. “I just try to stay as calm as I can.”
Rowe’s counterpart, Kaylin Shields, who allowed one run on three hits while striking out 14 and walked just one while hitting two batters.
Rowe relished her duel with Shields, who is a friend.
“Kaylin is a very good pitcher,” said Rowe. “I knew that one or two plays would decide the game. I was very confident in my team’s ability to get the win.
“It feels so good (to get the victory). It’s different than being at home. It’s different playing on the road, and you have to make quick adjustments.”
Colyer, who teaches at Genoa Schools, said the Comets gave the Knights all they could handle.
“I give a lot of credit to Genoa and Kaylin Shields. She was fantastic,” Colyer said. “This league is very competitive. This is a win on the road, and we’ll take it.”
