Walk-Off Homer Puts Lady Braves In Sectional Final

Katie Enright dealt eight shutout innings and Ashley DeYoung jacked a two-run, walk-off home run in the bottom of the eighth to lift the Indian Hills Lady Braves to a 2-0 win over Newton in the state sectional semifinals Tuesday afternoon.

In what was a fast-paced pitcher's duel between Enright (28-2) and Newton's Chelsea Homa (19-7), the Braves finally got the hit they needed after leaving several runners in scoring position in the late innings.

"We did our scouting, so we knew we were up against a tough pitcher and a good team," said coach Joe Leicht. "We figured as long as Katie could keep them down, somehow we had to score. (Enright) pitched a wonderful game, we played a good game behind her, and Ashley's been doing it for us all year long."

Enright struck out eight, walked zero and allowed just three base runners the entire game. She struck out the first three batters she faced and retired nine straight through the middle innings to keep Hills in the game.

"I knew my teammates really wanted this, and we've been in this all year," Enright said. "There was no way I was going to let up my focus now. I couldn't for a second let myself think we had this. We had to keep working the entire game."

The Braves' hitters had just as rough a time figuring out Homa, who struck out six, walked none and continually forced Hills to strand runners. Indian Hills got a runner to third in the third inning and runners on second and third in the fifth, but failed to capitalize. Two straight base hits opened up the bottom of the sixth inning, but three straight groundouts forced extra frames.

"Somebody here has to come through," Leciht told his team heading into the final inning. "Somebody here is going to be a hero."

Carey Houston opened up the eighth by beating out a bunt, but it looked like Hills would fall short again after a failed bunt and strikeout. DeYoung came up with Houston on second and hammered a 2-0 pitch over the center field fence.

"I knew someone had to step up," DeYoung said. "I knew I wasn't swinging the way I should have, and she was eventually going to come inside, so I gave it all I had."

DeYoung made her first hit of the afternoon count and was awaited by a gang of celebratory teammates at home plate.

"Ashley's been coming through for us all year," Leicht said about his No. 3 hitter. "She leads the team in RBI and struck out just twice (all season). Just to show you, in situations like in the sixth (runners on first and second, one out) you usually bunt, but that is taking the bat out of her hand, so I let Ashley hit."

The Braves play the winner of Pequannock-Ramsey for the North 1, Group 2 title either Thursday or Friday.