Normandy Moves Past Garfield Heights with 12-2 Win; Invaders Advance to Face Parma

By Catrina Olsen

The girls of Normandy bounced back from a rough loss the day before to pick up a big playoff victory on Tuesday, defeating Garfield Heights, 12-2 in a Division I sectional semifinal. Their confidence and focus throughout the game was impressive.

Normandy had bats blazing and played solid defense, which complemented their offense.

“When we play good on defense, it seems to transfer over into offense.” said Normandy coach Matt Bramel.

Normandy got out to a strong start, scoring three runs in the first inning.

Katelin Milles scored from third on an errant throw from the catcher to second base.

Jordan Steele reached  first with a dropped third strike and was later batted in by Leanna Gentry.

Carly Witwer drove Gentry in with a triple to make it 3-0.

The bats continued into the bottom of the second inning.  Milles drove in Alexis Ragone with a double.

Milles was then batted in by Lizzy Leavelle with a triple to make it 5-0.

Garfield Heights answered back, scoring two in the top of the third.

Jada Dunbar and Sierra Dalton drew back-to-back walks and then pulled off a double steal.

Makayla Warren plated a two-run single to make it 5-2.

With a deep hit over the head of the centerfielder. Malorie Sadowski started off the bottom of the third with a double.

Witwer singled to put runners at the corners and Hannah Kelley’s RBI groundout scored Sadowski, while Witwer advanced to third on an error.

Ragone followed it up with an RBI single to make it 7-2.

The fourth inning was another big one for the Invaders, who added four more runs.

Sadowski delivered an RBI triple and came around to score off a single by Witwer. Witwer and Kelly would also come across in the inning.

In the bottom of the fifth, Normandy needed one more run to end it and Witwer delivered an RBI single to seal the deal, making it a 12-2 final.

#7 seeded Normandy advances to face rival #2 Parma in a sectional final on May 10, looking to keep the momentum going against a tough Redmen team, which had one of the best regular seasons in Northeast Ohio this Spring.