Flash player is required to view weather conditions. Download

site web  

KINGS MILLS — The harder it rained, it seemed, the more that rain took the sting out of Lakota West's softball bats.

The Firebirds were limited to just one hit, a first-inning double by Chelsea Sherman, in their 1-0 loss to Glen Este in the Division I sectional finals Monday, May 19 at Kings Mills High School.

Glen Este's Kierstin Gregory pitched a one-hit shutout, which was only marginally more impressive than the performance from Lakota West's Alex Caudill, who allowed only two hits and no earned runs.

"She pitched well," Lakota West coach Keith Castner said of Gregory, "and our girl pitched well, too. You can't have an error like that where the ball gets through and goes all the way to the fence."

Castner was referring to the only run scored in the game, in the bottom of the second inning, when Kari Lang crossed the plate on the Lakota West error.

The rain began in the top of the first inning as a few sprinkles. By the bottom of the first, it had become light but steady. It never stopped after that.

"It's tough," Castner said of the conditions, "but both teams have to play in it. "They got the break there and we didn't."

The Firebirds put two runners in scoring position in the third inning with two out, with the help of a hit batter, a walk and a passed ball, but could not come up with the clutch hit.

"We're 14-13 and just didn't find a way to get over the hump hitting-wise," Castner said. "We'd get runners on first and second or second and third and just didn't find a way to get them in enough times this season."

The victory improved Glen Este's record to 21-5.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.

Vote for this story!