Jefferson Little League Complex- Tuesday evening both the Ursuline Fighting Irish (8-6) and the ¨host¨ Aurora Lady Greenmen (23-4) competed in an OHSAA District Semi Final contest. Mia O´Palick toed the rubber for Ursuline, as her counterpart McKennah Metzger got the start on the bump for Aurora.
Brooke O´Palick led off for the Fighting Irish and collected the first hit on her leadoff single. Metzger would respond well following the leadoff baserunner, striking out two of the next three batters to end the frame. Mia O´Palick fanned the first two Aurora batters she faced, before her defense recorded the final out of the inning.
Savannah Patrone drew a leadoff walk, advancing to 2nd on a sacrifice bunt from Katie Koulianos. Lily Ditz and Hannah Saluga became a pair of strike out victims at the hand of Metzger. Sophie Retton´s leadoff single handed the baton to Sophie Schecterman. Schecterman came through with an RBI double to give the Lady Greenmen a 1-0 lead. Another single from Lailah Bohanan kept the train moving. O´Palick responded by striking out Maggie McVicker and Julia Miller to end the inning.
Following a fly out to center, Brooke O´Palick would reach once again on a walk. A strikeout of Gia Schiavone and a ground out from Mia O´Palick the side would be retired. Rayna Unverferth drew a one-out walk, and a steal of 2nd base put a runner in scoring position for Aurora. Following a strikeout Metzger would reach on an error that allowed Unverferth to score. Retton picked up her 2nd hit of the night, but Schecterman´s fly ball to left ended the inning. 2-0 Aurora.
Two more strikeouts came for Metzger in the 4th. A pair of groundouts and a pop out mad it a 1-2-3 inning for Metzger. After Bohanan was struck out, a single came from McVicker, who stole 2nd to set up Madeline Dalessandro to single as well. Dalessandro stole 2nd allowing McVicker to score 3-0 Aurora. A strikeout ended the inning.
The errorless defense of Aurora continued to stand their ground as they recorded all three outs in the 5th. With two outs in the bottom of the 5th for Aurora, Setton and Schecterman combined once again with a single and RBI double. A strikeout ended the inning but the Lady Greenmen lead was now 4-0.
Another strong defensive inning for Aurora as they sit down the Fighting Irish 1-2-3. A one-out walk and stolen base doesn´t stir trouble for Ursuline as the Fighting Irish look to make a last-ditch effort to keep their postseason dreams alive.
Metzger finished her night in the 7th. A strikeout got things started for her, and with two outs, Koulianos and Ditz both collected singles in hopes of a comeback. Metzger slammed the door on the Fighting Irish with her 9th strikeout of the game.
Ursuline´s offense was shutout, only picking up four hits on the night. Brooke O´Palick, Savannah Patrone, Katie Koulianos and Lily DItz all collected hits for the Fighting Irish.
FINAL STATS:
BO: 1-2
SP: 1-2
KK: 1-2
LD: 1-3
Despite the loss, Mia O´Palick offered up a solid outing. Allowing three runs on eight hits with a pair of walks and twelve strikeouts.
FINAL LINE:
MO: 6IP 8H 3ER 2BB 12K
McKennah Metzger pitched a complete game shutout for Aurora. In seven innings of work she allowed four hits and a pair of walks accompanied by nine strikeouts.
FINAL LINE:
MM: 7IP 4H 2BB 9K
The Lady Greenmen scattered nine hits scoring four runs. Sophie Retton and Sophie Schecterman collected multi-hit games. Schecterman lead the way in RBIs with two. Madeline Dalessandro, Lailah Bohanan and Rayna Unverferth also picked up hits for Aurora.
FINAL STATS:
RU: 1-4 R
SR: 3-3 2R
SS: 2-3 2 2B 2RBI
LB: 1-2
MD: 1-3