Wayland Softball Comeback Falls To A Lincoln-Sudbury Walkoff

A seventh inning comeback put Wayland softball just short of victory on Friday.

After overcoming a two-run deficit in the top of the inning, the DCL (Small) Wayland Warriors lost 5-4 on a walk-off bunt by host Lincoln-Sudbury.

“This is as well as we can play,” said Wayland manager Keith Meliones. “If not for a hit or two, we had the runners in scoring position but could not get that winning hit.”

The win improves L-S's record to 3-8 overall, while dropping Wayland's to 1-10.

Entering the bottom of the seventh tied 4-4, sophomore Becca Ryan ripped a long drive off the center field wall to put the winning runner on first. After a steal from Ryan, a well-placed bunt from senior Kayla Johnson down the third base line forced a bobbled throw to first base.

Reading the trouble at first, Ryan turned third and ran home for an L-S victory.

“I was not even thinking about her coming home and was just trying to get on base,” said Johnson.

“The plan was to have Kayla bunt Becca to second, but she stole second so when Kayla bunted the ball Becca was already rounding third,” added L-S manager Nancy Childress.

The winning hit came half an inning after Wayland had come back from a 4-2 deficit.

After a pair of steals put Wayland's Emily Starr on third, a single from teammate senior Molly Wogan brought her team within one. Stealing two bases of her own, Wogan forced a miss throw at third to reach home and tie the game.

“That was a delayed steal done on her own by Molly,” said Meliones. “You take off when the catcher throws back to the pitcher. She is a heads-up kid.”

Wayland had begun the game up 2-0 off runs in the first and third innings.

With runners on second and third for Wayland in its first at bat, Olivia Shaw stole second base to draw a throw and bring Wogan home from third for the first run. Two innings later, an overthrown pitch brought Starr home from third for another run.

“We decided we were going to be more aggressive because we have only won one game,” said Meliones. “It is against my nature, but it worked out today.”

A four-run fourth inning flipped the lead and put L-S up by two.

After a pair of singles put L-S sophomore Mandy Sifferlen and junior Erin Deneen on base, teammate freshman Gill Vesely ripped a double into the center field gap to tie the game at 2-2. A double by Ryan and a stolen base by senior Michelle Richard gave L-S two more runs.

“We were focused and not worrying about the score,” said Johnson. “We worked on hitting yesterday and that definitely (paid off)."

“I knew their were runners on first and second so I was just trying to make contact,” added Ryan.

Wogan had two hits, one walk, two runs and an RBI for Wayland. Vesely had two hits, two RBIs and a run for L-S.

While Ryan had an additional RBI, Ryan and Deneen both had two hits and a run for L-S.

“Becca is the second best batter on our team and she is batting around .450,” said Childress. “We had decided to let Becca rest. Once we had runners on and were down, I knew we needed Becca's bat.”

Starter sophomore Lauren Kantrovitz pitched a complete game for L-S with four runs off six hits, six walks and 12 strikeouts. Wayland starter junior Jess Hayward also pitched a complete game with five runs off seven hits one walk and three strikeouts.

“(Hayward) stayed focused, let them hit it a little and let our fielders make plays,” said Meliones.

“Lauren was hitting her spots,” added Childress.

Wayland next travels to face Bedford High (5-3, 5-3 DCL) at 4 p.m. on Monday.