Contributed MILESTONE REACHED — Edison's Abigail Boka reached the 100 career hit mark in Monday's tournament game, reaching the mark with her 13th homer of the season.

RICHMOND — Abby Boka came to the rescue of the Edison softball team once, but Claymont made sure she didn’t do it a second time.

Boka belted a game-tying three run home run in the fifth inning, but she did not get a chance to swing the bat the rest of the way as the Mustangs walked her in her final two plate appearances. Ultimately, the strategy proved to successful for Claymont.

Leading by a run in the bottom of the 10th, the Mustangs walked Boka to load the bases, however, a lineout to second ended the game as the No. 7 Claymont held on to defeat No. 4 seed Edison, 5-4, in 10 innings in an Ohio Division V Eastern District 2 Quarterfinal Monday evening out at the Edison Unified Sports Complex.

“It was a heartbreaker,” Edison (16-11) head coach McKenzie Morrison said. “I want to give a lot of thanks to our four seniors. They have been very loyal to me. I coached their team in junior high when they were in eighth grade up until now. They battled all year. I am excited to see what they are going to do in the future. I love those girls. I wish them nothing but the best moving forward.”

The score was deadlocked at 4 going into the 10th, but the victors were able to break through for a run for the first time since the second inning.

Adry Malone walked with one out to get the ball rolling. Then after a pop-up, she ended up on third thanks to back-to-back singles by Hayden Lawhun and Riley Fair as the Mustangs loaded the bases. Aubree Cottrell stepped to the plate, and the junior drew a six-pitch walking scoring Malone giving Claymont a 5-4 advantage. The Wildcats were able get out of the inning without any more harm being done thanks to a lineout to left.

Trailing by a run, Edison needed to make something happen in the home half of the inning. The Wildcats very nearly did, however, they were unable to come through in the clutch as Edison stranded three runners on base as they game ended.

With one out, Paige Somerville singled to center to start things off, and Teagan Reynolds was issued a walk to put two runners on base. Sophia Henderson then reached on a fielder’s choice as Reynolds was out at second on the play. With two on and two outs, Claymont head coach Alexandrea Edwards opted to walk Boka loading the bases, however, Lexus Blair retired the next batter to escape the threat unscathed.

“We really battled in that last inning,” Morrison said. “Unfortunately, we just came up short.”

Blair went the distance to pick up the win for the Mustangs. She struck out seven and walked three.

Bristol Leanza was saddled with the loss. The senior went the distance striking out 10 while walking five.

“Bristol pitched a great game,” Morrison said. “She struck out five batters in a row at one point. She had 10 strikeouts in the game. She pitched a great game. I could not ask any more from her. We just came up a little short.”

The Mustangs struck first with two runs in the first thanks to some miscues by the Wildcats. Ava Edwards singled to center to lead off the game, and she ended up scoring the first run on an error giving Claymont an early 1-0 lead. Adry Malone reached and advanced to second on the error, moved up to third on a passed ball and scored on a single to center by Riley Fair to make it 2-0. Fair advanced to second on a wild pitch to put herself in scoring position as Aubree Cottrell drew a walk, however, a flyout prevented the Mustangs from doing any more damage in the inning.

The girls from Tuscarawas County extended their advantage in the second. After a strikeout, Abby Johnson singled to start things off and she advanced to third on a single to left by Ava Edwards, who took second on the throw. Then, Malone plated the pair with a single to right to give the visitors a 4-0 advantage. The Wildcats were able to get out of the inning thanks to a pair of flyouts.

The girls in the black jerseys got their first baserunner in the third as Somerville singled to center with one out, however, she was stranded there thanks to two flyouts.

The Wildcats were able to break through in the fourth. Boka singled to left to start the inning, stole second, advanced to third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Chloe Peckens to cut Edison’s deficit down to 4-1. Alivia Hanlin followed with a single, but the catcher was stranded there thanks to an inning-ending strikeout.

The girls from Jefferson County completed their comeback in the fifth. Bella Cronin singled to start the inning, and she moved up to second on a single by Sophia Henderson. Then, Boka launched a three-run home run over the fence in center to knot the score at 4.

“Normally, the girls stay up, and I don’t have to say anything to them,” Morrison said. “They don’t get down. I knew they would battle back. Boka’s home run was her 100th career hit, and she joined the OHSAAA record book as that home run was her 13th of the season. That is a huge accomplishment. That was a huge hit for us, for sure.”

The last Edison player to hit 13 home runs in a season was Molly McCoy, who accomplished the feat back in 2013.

“It is nice for her to be next to another Edison girl,” Morrison said.

Morrison, who is a graduate of Edison, is not only coaching Boka in her high school career, but she is also good friends with McCoy.

“Molly is one of my best friends,” Morrison said. “It is really awesome being friends with Molly and coaching Boka. I am excited for Abigail. She is a hard worker. She deserves all of the accolades she receives. She puts in a lot of time and a lot of effort. She is very deserving of any record she gets or award that she gets. I am really proud of her.

Brynn Wise was hit by a pitch to lead off the seventh for the Mustangs. Wise moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Johnson before advancing to third on a flyout to right by Ava Edwards, however, she was stranded there thanks to a strikeout.

The Wildcats had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the inning, however, the hosts were retired in order sending the game into extra innings.

With one out in the eight, Boka was issued an intentional walk to put the potential game-winning run on base, however, a lineout turned into a double play keeping the Silver-and-Black off the scoreboard.

“After the home run, they intentionally walked her twice,” Morrison said. “That was a good coaching decision by Aly to not let her hit.”

The game was the final one for Edison’s four seniors — Leanza, Henderson, Peckens, Somerville.

With the win, Claymont will play No. 3 seed Ridgewood in the district semifinals at 5 p.m. Monday on the road.

Claymont 5, Edison 4 (10 innings)

Claymont 220 000 000 1- 4 7 0

Edison 000 130 000 – 4 6 1

CLAYMONT (14-12): Blair WP (10IP, 7K, 3BB) and Johnson. Edwards 2S; Malone S, 2RBI; H. Lawhun S; Fair 2S, RBI; Cottrell RBI; Johnson S.

EDISON (16-11): Leanza LP (10IP, 10K, 5BB) and Hanlin. Henderson S; Boka S, HR, 3RBI; Peckens RBI; Hanlin S; Cronin S; Somerville 2S.