BARTOW — Bartow scored 13 runs in the first round of the playoffs but the deeper it goes, the more likely the Yellow Jackets are going to have to depend on pitching and defense. That was the case on Wednesday, and Ryleigh Knowlton and her teammates were more than up to the challenge.
Knowlton pitched a two-hitter as Bartow defeated Durant, 2-1, in the Class 6A, Region 2 semifinals.
Bartow will play Melbourne in the region finals at 7 p.m. on Thursday at home. They are the top two seeds in the region.
After allowing a home run to the first batter of the game, Knowlton allowed just five batters — one hit, one hit batter and three walks — the rest of the game. She struck out 11.
Behind Knowlton, her teammates did not make an error.
“Our offense has been up and down, but our defense has been really good, like great,” Knowlton said. “I definitely think we improved on, that area.”
Durant tried to manufacture the tying run in the top of the seventh when Giana Lopez led off with a single. However, Jillian Hidalgo’s bunt attempt was popped upland catcher Lexi Hayford made the catch then threw a strike to Alyssa Hillman at first to double off Lopez.
“That was great because then I don’t have to work so hard to get the next two outs,” Knowlton said. “I can just focus on getting the last one.”
Knowlton pitched with the lead over the last six innings after Bartow scored two runs in the bottom of the first innings. Emma Huffman led off with a walk and Niamah Johnson singled.
After Huffman scored on a wild pitch, Bailee Ellis drove in Johnson with the go-ahead run.
Bartów managed hits from Huffman, Knowlton and Lexi Hayford among with four batters who walked but could not score again. It was enough for Knowlton, however.
“We started doing fine,” Bartow coach Glenn Rutenbar said. “I would love for us to play a complete game. I mean that would be nice if we could play a complete game, but we’re still playing.”
3A-3: Lanier hurls gem in McKeel’s win
Chloe Lanier matched Knowlton’s effort by tossing a 2-hitter and striking out 14 in McKeel’s 3-1 victory over Englewood Lemon Bay in the 3A-3 region semifinals.
McKeel will play host to Tampa Holy Names at 7 p.m. on Thursday in the region final.
Lanier pitched with the lead all game and allowed just one unearned run in the sixth inning.
Isabelle Morrell led off the bottom of the first with a single then later scored on Madyson Marion’s one-out single.
Kamryn Scobel led off the fourth inning with a triple then scored on an infield groundout to give McKeel what proved to be the winning run.
Amelia Mejias reached on an error in the top of the sixth inning and scored on Kylie Jones’ two-out single to chip away at the Wildcats’ lead.
McKeel got the run back in the bottom of the sixth on Chloe Whitmer’s two-out single that drove in Mikayla Jackson.
Lanier struck out the first two batters of the inning then allowed a walk before ending the game with her final strikeout.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Softball: Pitching, defense lift Bartow and McKeel in regional semis
Reporting by Roy Fuoco, Lakeland Ledger / The Ledger
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
