DUNCAN FALLS — Sometimes in defeat — you simply just tip your cap, shake your opponents’ hands and say job well done.
Unfortunately, Meadowbrook High had one of those moments during Wednesday’s Division IV regional softball semifinal with a tough, season-ending 4-2 loss to Logan Elm at Philo Athletic Complex.
With the Colts playing in their third straight OHSAA regional, it was not a case of Meadowbrook losing the game. It was more a case of the Braves winning the game with a clutch, two-out, seventh-inning performance to advance to Friday’s Division IV regional championship game.
“We knew coming in Logan Elm was going to be tough team. We did our homework on them,” Meadowbrook head coach Mike Wiggins said. “We had our opportunities, but tonight we came up a little short. We were prepared and played with a lot of heart and desire.
“We really wanted to keep moving forward in the tournament. It’s a real heartbreaking loss for us,” Wiggins added. “But hats off to Logan Elm, they came through with a big seventh-inning effort to come out on top. We wish them well against Hillsboro, and hopefully they can keep moving forward.”
Logan Elm unleashed seventh-inning magic to oust Colts
The pitching matchup featured Meadowbrook junior ace Addy Sichina and Sadie Binkley of Logan Elm hooking up in a classic duel with a spot in the regional finals on the line.
Entering the seventh inning, the score stood deadlocked at 2 with each pitcher holding their opponents to just three hits. They were matching each other inning by inning.
To open the seventh, Sichina quickly retired the first two Braves’ hitters with a strikeout and a lazy fly ball to the outfield.
With two outs and the bases empty, Meadowbrook appeared poised to keep Logan Elm scoreless and hopefully come in and rally to collect a walk-off victory in the bottom of the inning.
Suzy Caplinger put those plans on hold and kept the inning alive by stroking a double to the left field gap. That clutch 2-out base hit ignited a rally with Binkley and Brittani Lane delivering back-to-back RBI singles to plate a pair of runs for a sudden 4-2 Logan Elm lead.
Needing a two-run rally to stay alive, the Colts came in and Bethany Dickey singled to bring the tying run to the plate. But Meadowbrook was unable to mount a rally and took the hard luck defeat to finish the season at 22-8.
Sichina was saddled with the loss in a solid complete game outing, allowing 4 runs on 7 hits with 7 K’s. Binkley also went the distance, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits with a pair of K’s to collect the win.
Natalee Norman led the Colts’ six-hit offense with an RBI double in the fourth, while Sichina, Dickey, Randles, Jordyn Vargeson and Sommer Ginn each singled.
Meadowbrook turns attention on regional return trip next season
Despite the disappointing end to another successful season, Wiggins was quick to point out the Colts would be ready to make a run at a fourth consecutive regional appearance next season.
“This loss is tough right now, but I’m proud of this team and it gives us something to build on,” Wiggins said. “Our saying is we don’t lose … we learn. We will learn from this, come together in the offseason and work to get back here next year for a fourth straight season. That’s always our goal, and these girls will be back at next season for another postseason run.”
KSutton1@gannett.com; X: @KSuttonDJSports; Instagram: kevinsutton_dailyjeffsports
This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Logan Elm’s 7th inning magic ends Meadowbrook’s season with regional semifinal loss
Reporting by Kevin Sutton, Cambridge Daily Jeffersonian / The Daily Jeffersonian
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
