ROCHESTER — Jaelyn Watts just hoped to put the ball in play.
The Rochester senior exceeded beyond all hopes with the go-ahead home run in a thrilling 3-2 victory over Sacred Heart-Griffin in the Class 2A Williamsville Sectional semifinals on Tuesday, May 26.
Watts squared up a 2-1 count and roped the ball over the left field wall in the top of the ninth inning — her first homer of the season, no less.
The Rockets (25-8) will meet either No. 1 Williamsville or No. 3 Buffalo Tri-City in Friday’s sectional final at 4:30 p.m.
“I haven’t hit the best this season, so all I wanted to do was what we talked about to put the ball in play … and it happened to go over,” the Lake Land College commit said. “It felt pretty good off the bat. When I was running down to first base, I was just like, ‘Go ball, go ball, go ball,’ and it did go.”
Watts additionally prevailed in a duel against standout junior pitcher Kenzie Wieland. Both went the distance with 15 strikeouts apiece. Watts allowed two runs on eight hits and six walks.
Rochester rallied ahead 2-1 in the second inning following a Brooklyn Thompson RBI triple and Watts sacrifice fly before SHG’s Ryleigh O’Brien launched a solo shot over the center field fence in the fourth.
Thompson ultimately provided two of the team’s three hits.
“A senior coming through not only in the circle but at the plate when we needed her was amazing,” Rochester coach Lindsay Howard said. “I’m happy she got the homer.”
Pivotal defensive plays kept SHG in check.
Rochester senior shortstop Bella Harness threw out Wieland at home plate on a relay in the fifth, while junior catcher Peyton Purves caught a runner out of position at first base to end the threat in the seventh and force extras.
“We knew that they had a really good pitcher, so obviously defense was going to be a big part of this game — just making plays when they were available to be made,” Purves said.
SHG bows out 21-7, its most wins since 2022.
Addie Malek paced the Cyclones with two hits, while Wieland took three walks.
“They fought their hearts out against a very good team,” SHG coach Scott Stotlar said. “The message to the team is don’t stop. Just because the season is over doesn’t mean we stop working — put in the work in the offseason, continue to get better and come together as a team.
“We’re going to miss the seniors, but we’re returning a lot of players who are key contributors. It could be a very exciting year next year, but this one’s going to hurt for a minute and then get right back at it.”
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Rochester senior lasers unexpected homer to reach softball sectional finals
Reporting by Bill Welt, Springfield State Journal-Register / State Journal-Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
