Recap

If you cheated and watched the highlight video, you may have noticed that all the highlights are from the Top of the 7th inning. It was perhaps the greatest half 7th inning of softball to exist.

So, as you can imagine, I watch a lot of these Game Changer video clips. A lot. My favorite part of the clips, and I usually try to include a little of it in the highlights, is what happens before & after the play. The plays are awesome, don’t get me wrong, these ladies do some pretty incredible things on the softball field. My favorite part is listening and watching the other teammates. They are constantly cheering, shouting words of encouragement before a play, jumping up and down after a big play, or picking up a teammate after a bad one. It is truly heartwarming & what sports are all about, in my opinion. And it doesn’t matter how far out of or out in front of a game they are, if the batter struck out the last 3 at bats, or just hit a home run. They are cheering.

I have been watching Manheim Township Softball for some time now & there is no doubt, we have had some skill…we have a lot of skill right now! Heck, we have 4 Seniors going on to play College Softball. According to www.ncaa.org, that puts these ladies in the top 6.3% of High School Softball players! And those are just the Seniors. We have talent, but it takes more than that to win.

This team is just that…a TEAM! And more than that, a team with grit and determination.

Yesterday was cold. It rained just enough to be really annoying. And it was windy. Forget the fact that Solanco had no fence, there were at least 3 HR balls our girls hit that just hung in the outfield and then dropped. No wind & a fence? It is a whole different ball game. It was disheartening. It was discouraging. After 6 innings it was 0-9. After 6 innings of that, it would have been easy to give up. Heck, it was the kind of game that you leave early from to beat the traffic…, but if you did? Oh brother, you would be angry you missed the end.

Top of the 7th. 0-9. The Lady Golden Mules have handled everything you threw at them for 6 innings. The weather has robbed you.

May Castillo (SS) steps up to the plate, hits a pop fly, but reaches base on an error. She eventually took 3rd on a pass ball. Next up, Natalie Brownell (DP), takes (4) straight balls for a walk. Sofia Panagopoulos (Pinch Hitter) grounds out, but advances Natalie Brownell (DP) to 2nd & May Castillo (SS) scores. OK, so at least we aren’t getting shut out. After the way the rest of the game has gone, maybe that’s enough.

NOPE!

Ellie Comerford (RF), walks in 4 straight balls. Mya Zeigler (CF) steps in to the box and rips a line drive to LF. Natalie Brownell (DP) finds her wheels and scores. Ellie Comerford (RF) advances to 2nd. Alright, we are going to make a little showing, so the end score looks a little closer. It is “garbage time” as they say in football.

NOPE!

Bella Stern (2nd) drives her 2nd pitch to deep LF, advancing Mya Zeigler (CF) to 3rd & scoring Ellie Comerford (RF). The score is 3-9. Solanco still holds a sizable lead, but surely, we are done.

NOPE!

Ashley Bryant (1st) is up next with (1) out. She rips the 1st pitch to RF scoring Mya Zeigler (CF) & Bella Stern (2nd). Now wait…huh?…what? The score is now 5-9. Solanco is still in the driver’s seat, but are they?

NOPE!

Sara Hess (C), walks in 4 straight balls

oh?

Ava Stern (P) walks. Bases are loaded.

OH?

May Castillo (SS)…now wait, she was already up this inning?

YUP!

Is the Tying run at the plate?

YUP!

May Castillo (SS) smacks a ball to CF. In that moment, I bet those Solanco outfielders wished they had a fence. “Big Play” May Castillo (SS) clears the bases with a 3 RBI triple. The score is 8-9. We have a ball game!

YUP!

Is May Castillo (SS) done?

Nope!

She steals home. TIE GAME!!!

Natalie Brownell (DP) singles next, but this all for the scoring. Solanco has last at bats. They score a run and it is over. A less than stellar way to end and the Lady Streaks lose this one to Solanco 9-10.

It stinks to lose, but…that was one of the greatest comeback efforts and innings I have ever been privileged to witness! You have a lot more softball to play ladies & you just put the league on notice…You Are NEVER out of a game.

Normally here is where I would tell you we have Mechanicsburg tomorrow at home…, but it is tomorrow…and it rained…I am late to the party with this one. Sorry, I fell asleep at my desk finishing the work that pays for Softball bats & new Catcher’s gear.

So, we skip ahead to next week where we are home to face the Penn Manor Comets on Monday, April 14th @ 4:15pm. It is Teacher Appreciation Night at the ball park, so come early to see who the Senior’s favorite teachers are! First 5 guests get a “Go Streaks” yell!

Solanco High School Softball Diamond 585 Solanco Rd Quarryville, Pennsylvania 17566-9616