Elyria Rallies Past Amherst, 6-4, in District Championship

By Catrina Olsen

The Elyria Pioneers had a late start, but came from behind to defeat Amherst, 6-4 and become District Champs.

Watch Video Highlights of the game, via OhioSportsNet.

Elyria hit well in the first inning but had a few problems leaving players stranded at third and second.

The ladies of Amherst came to play in the first inning, scoring 4 runs. The first and second run were RBI’s by Madison Spataro with a double.

Spataro brought in Amanda Crisler who got to base on a walk and number Kasey McGraw who reached base by a walk as well.

Lauren Kachure brought in two with a double.

Kachure brought in Madison O’Berg who had a shallow hit, just shallow enough to get to first with a single and Kachure who was on second from her double.

By the end of the first inning the score was Elyria 0 and Amherst 4.
With a Dierra Hammons reaching second, the Pioneers left her stranded at second.

Crisler reaches first by a walk. Crisler is then moved from first to second by a walk from McGraw. O’ Berg then has a single.

Ending the inning with a great throw from the Pioneers center fielder, Macy Taylor for a tag out at home, Crisler was the third out of the inning. At the bottom of the inning, the score still stands Elyria 0, Amherst 4.

With a walk from Macy Taylor to start the top of the third it begins the momentum with the Pioneers offense. Madison Cruzado moved Taylor to second.

April Howser had a single that brought in Taylor. Putting the Elyria Pioneers on the board, Elyria 1, Amherst 4 at the top of inning 3.

A walk to start off the inning by Hammons. With a double by Isabella St. Peter, she brought in Hammons. The score was Elyria 2, Amherst 4.

With a double at the start of the 5th inning, Cruzado starts a hit parade. Followed by a double by Riley Zana. Zana was then hit in by Maycee Godbolt. The score was tied up at 4 going into the bottom of the 5th.

The bottom of the 6th brought a little bit of a challenge for St. Peters and for the defense, but they pulled through keeping the score tied up.

The top of the 7th was a big inning for the Pioneers. With a walk by Cruzado and an in the park home run by Zana. The score stood Elyria 6, Amherst 4.

The bottom of the seventh was a quick inning with 3 up and 3 down with two pop flies and a simple play. With the final score, Elyria 6, Amherst 4.

The Pioneers had a great mentality and were self-sufficient. They saw the problem and fixed it. One thing anyone can say for these girls is they are a team that likes to come from behind and battle back. “I think we are a very good underdog team. We’re pretty good at coming back and battling.” Said Zana.
“They believed in each other and believed in what I’ve said,” stated Coach Ken Fenick.

You don’t stop playing till it’s over, and it’s never over.”

While Amherst set the bar at the bottom of the first the Pioneers chipped away and eventually came through to win in one run at a time and one play at a time. With a large amount of chatter on and off the field, the pioneers were staying up and staying focused and that reflected in the score.

“You don’t stop playing till it’s over, and it’s never over.”

While Amherst set the bar at the bottom of the first the Pioneers chipped away and eventually came through to win in one run at a time and one play at a time. With a large amount of chatter on and off the field, the pioneers were staying up and staying focused and that reflected in the score.