Strongsville Takes Extra Innings to Win in Wild Fashion

In one of the final regular season games before the state tournament begins, the Lady Mustangs took the opportunity to fine-tune their defense. Since mid-season, numerous players, including former all-conference catcher Natalie Mariano and infielders Danielle and Nicole Kountz, have found themselves playing in a different position.

The moves were made to "strengthen our defense," according to head coach Jeanette Howard. That plan worked Monday against Medina.

The jumped up 2-0 in the bottom of the first on RBI hits by Danielle Kountz and Colleen Mackenzie. That's how the game stayed until the top of the third inning.

With sophomore Nicole Blough on the mound for Strongsville in only her fourth start of the season, the Bees went to work. A single, walk and another single scored Kylee Ensign for the Bees' first run in the game. A nice 5-3-2 double play ended the Bees' rally as Nicole Kountz applied the tag at home to keep the Mustang advantage at 2-1.

Although the Lady Mustangs had base runners in every inning, that timely hit eluded them time and time again.

Senior ace pitcher Emily Kolezynski came in for the Mustangs in the fourth inning and threw two 1-2-3 innings which kept the score 2-1 Mustangs heading into the sixth. Here is where the game began to show its wild side.

Medina freshman Vanessa Scoarste opened the top of the sixth with a single, then promptly stole second base. After a flyout and ground out that moved Scoarste to third, a wild pitch allowed her to score the tying run.

 The Mustangs tried to end things in the bottom of the seventh as they got two runners on, but a ground out ended the inning and they headed into the eighth inning tied 2-2.

A two-base throwing error opened the door for the Bees in the top of the eighth. Again Scoarste proved to be the thorn in the side of the Mustangs as she hit her second double of the afternoon, scoring  Alexis Lee, and giving the Medina Bees a one-run lead 3-2. A Mustang heads-up defensive play resulted in a double play and ended the inning for the Bees.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, a pinch-hit walk by junior Kayla Reed got things rolling for the Mustangs. Kaitlyn Gairing, running for Reed, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kolezynski. Emily Jones followed with an infield hit to move Gairing to third. Gairing then scored the tying run on a shot to left center by Mariano. A base running error and strikeout ended the eighth for the Mustangs, all tied up at 3 apiece.

A groundout, single and double play ended the Bee's excitement in the top of the ninth.

Lauren "Red" Reitz opened the bottom of the ninth for the Mustangs with a bloop single, just fair, over the first baseman's head. Danielle Kountz, who had reached base safely on her four previous trips to the plate, bunted Reitz over to second. Mackenzie followed with a ground out to second, moving Reitz to third.

With junior Kate Munson at the plate, and the score tied, Bees' junior standout  pitcher Bobbi Langlois bounced a pitch off of home plate, a pitch that catcher Maria Vanadia couldn't control. The ball skidded to the back of the screen, allowing Reitz to score from third. A wild pitch for a wild ending, Mustangs win in nine innings, 4-3.

The Mustangs "pitching duo" of Blough and Kolezynski gave up eight hits, only one walk, and they struck out three. Behind the duo, the Lady Mustangs gave up only 1 earned run and turned three inning-saving double plays.

Leading the Mustangs offensively was Danielle Kountz who went two for three with a double, was hit by a pitch, reached base on an error, and had a timely sacrifice bunt.

Howard is confident about her newfound defense going into the state tournament.

"If we hit, we'll win," Howard said.

Tournament action starts for the Lady Mustangs on Thursday, May 12 when they take on the Cloverleaf Colts.