By Yaneek Smith
Special to the Sentinel-Tribune
MILLBURY — Better late than never. Heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, Lake trailed Oak Harbor by 11 runs and looked to get run-ruled.
But the Flyers rose up and scored four runs in the inning and another in the seventh to at least find a silver lining in their 11-5 loss to the Rockets on Wednesday.
Lake (8-10, 3-5 NBC) watched as Oak Harbor (16-2, 8-1) scored two runs in the first, two in the second, three in the third, two in the fourth and two in the sixth before responding.
It wasn’t pretty for the Flyers as the Rockets kept lacing hits all over the field, but that eventually came to an end.
In the bottom of the sixth, Diem Isbell drew a one-out walk, and Ellie Rymers hit a single to left. Kali Bedford hit a pop up to left field that was dropped, and Isbell scored. Sophia Gruetter hit a base hit to right, which scored Rymers, and a wild pitch with Alayna Meadows at the plate cut the deficit to 11-3.
Lucy Boos finished the scoring in the sixth with an RBI single to left, and in the seventh, Beford hit a sacrifice fly to score Kyleigh Waxler.
“We got a couple of balls to fall in the sixth inning. We started to hit the ball well,” said Lake coach Dave Rymers. “Oak Harbor plays good defense. We got some momentum after we started hitting, but it was too little, too late. But it was good. We didn’t have very successful at-bats in the first five innings.”
Rymers said he had a message to his team after the game.
“We talked about how momentum is a real thing, and getting ahead early is important,” he said. “Getting ahead early rather than chasing runs is different. But we didn’t get down. We fought and gave ourselves a chance, and that’s all you can ask for.”
Rocket pitcher Alyse Sorg gave up five runs, three of which were earned.
In the top of the first, Sorg reached on an error, Reese Adkins lined out to short and Porter Gregory hit a single to right. Ava Geyer hit a two-run single, and Oak Harbor took the lead for good, 2-0.
In the second, Morgan LaLonde, the No. 8 hitter, hit a single, moved to second on a wild pitch, and one out later, Sorg drew a walk, Adkins hit an RBI single to center. Gregory had a base hit to center, and Geyer’s ground ball to third was bobbled, allowing a second run to score, making it 4-0.
In the third, Allie Giezie lined a single to right, LaLonde hit a single to left and Myley Sandwich followed with a single to left to load the bases. Sorg hit a sacrifice fly to center, and Adkins hit a base to center, which got past the center fielder, allowing two runs to score.
LaLonde finished with four hits and two runs, Sorg had a walk, single and scored twice, Adkins had two hits and an RBI, Gregory had two hits and scored a run and Geyer finished with a single and a double.
“We hit well tonight. Everybody plays their role, and if one person isn’t finding a hole, there is going to be someone to pick them up,” said Oak Harbor coach Cami Haas. “(Our lineup) contributes pretty consistently. I think, top to bottom, everyone had at least one hit.”
The Flyers, seeded seventh in the Division II Genoa District, begin tournament play on Tuesday at 5 p.m. when they host (10) Fostoria. Should Lake win, it will face (5) Port Clinton on the road on Friday at 5 p.m. for a sectional title.
“It’s the start of the tournament. We’re all 0-0, it’s a fresh start,” said Rymers. “You start over in the playoffs.”
