There will be no three-peat for the Evangelical Christian School softball team.
Despite a valiant comeback attempt which saw the Sentinels score 10 runs in the game’s final three innings, ECS came up one short in the Class 1A state semifinals, losing 16-15 to Geneva in eight innings.
The Sentinels (16-9), who erased a five-run deficit in last year’s 17-14 win over Geneva in the 1A state championship game, couldn’t quite replicate that feat this time around. But they came ever so close.
“As long as we have an out or a strike, we have a chance, you know,” ECS coach Johnny Manetta said. “There’s no give up in this group. They’re going to fight to the end. They’re going to battle it out for each other.”
Trailing 12-8 heading into the seventh inning, ECS loaded the bases with one out on singles by Keaunna Green and Anayeli Guzman and Samantha Yzaguirre reaching after being hit by a pitch. Up stepped sophomore Reese Niemier, who launched a double to deep center field, scoring all three runners to make it 12-11.
The Knights (16-4) appeared to escape the jam with a double play when seventh-grader Olivia Foster grounded out and then, after a bobbled throw at third base, Niemier was thrown out at the plate. But the umpires ruled Geneva obstructed Niemier’s path to home and allowed her run to count, tying the game.
“Once Reese came around and ran into the third baseman and the umpire put his arm up, I just kept sending her,” Manetta said. “I knew that obstruction is a judgment call and they’re either going to put her back at third or give her home plate. It was still a close play, even with the obstruction and they awarded her home.”
In the bottom of the seventh, ECS again narrowly avoided defeat when with two outs and the winning run on third base, Knights’ pitcher Dallas Esperas drilled a sinking line drive to center field. But Guzman laid out for a spectacular diving catch to preserve the tie and send the game to extra innings.
“I saw Nelly moving fast and I’m like, ‘Oh my God, she’s going to actually catch this’,” Manetta said. “Once she laid out and the ball stayed in her glove, I was like, ‘Let’s go!’ I felt like we had the opportunity to win.”
In the top of the eighth inning, Green’s RBI single gave ECS its first lead since the opening inning. Guzman followed with a two-run single to put the Sentinels up 15-12.
In the bottom of the eighth, Geneva quickly made it 15-13 on junior Chloe Incinelli’s RBI single, then loaded the bases with one out. Freshman Eden Bastian blasted a double to deep left field, scoring all three runners to give the Knights a thrilling victory and deny ECS a third consecutive state championship game berth.
“We just could not keep them from swinging the bats,” Mannetta said. “They did a great job of keeping their composure and going out there and doing what they had to do. It’s unfortunate for us, but we’re not going to hang our heads. We’re going to take it like champions and we’re going to go out there and work harder to hopefully get the opportunity to do it again next year.”
Green, who had a hit in every one of the Sentinels’ games this season, went 4-for-6 with three runs scored for ECS. Guzman and senior Angelina Yzaguirre also had four hits each with Guzman scoring three runs and Yzaguirre driving in two. Junior Karsyn Mootz went 3-for-6 with two doubles, a triple and three RBI.
Seventh-grader Cozette Turnbaugh gave a yeoman’s effort on the mound, throwing 123 pitches, walking five batters and striking out none in 7.1 innings.
“She gave us everything she had,” Manetta said of Turnbaugh. “If it wasn’t for her, we wouldn’t even be in this situation. She’s such a great kid. I couldn’t be more proud of her.”
Turnbaugh was one of three seventh-graders who played major roles for ECS this season. The Sentinels will lose just three seniors from this year’s team.
“We don’t rebuild, we reload,” Manetta said. “We have a good core group that’s coming back next year. We’ll be ready.”
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: ECS softball’s quest for third state title ends in Class 1A semis
Reporting by Dan DeLuca, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
