Kell nearly no-hits Linsly, Oak Glen stays unbeaten
WHEELING -- Getting an early cushion in a game can pay dividends in crucial moments. Hence was the case for the Oak Glen softball team.
The Golden Bears not only boasted a seven-run lead going into the seventh inning against Linsly, but Lizzie Kell also was three outs away from a no-hitter.
The Cadets' bats came to life, however, and put together a late rally. Karena Recrosio crushed a three-run home run for Linsly, but the hole proved to be too big, and Oak Glen secured a 7-3 victory Wednesday evening at Holloway Field.
"It was crucial to come out and hit like we did. First inning, we left some runners on, and in the third inning we came through. Just being patient at the plate, waiting for their pitches, just carrying through and have the security you need with the late run that Linsly made," Oak Glen coach Sherrie Garner said.
"Credit to their team. They have excellent hitters and saw the ball well. It was a good game."
And, it was a good pitching performance by Kell. Going into the seventh inning, she had eight strikeouts compared to zero walks. Only two Linsly players reached base safely in that span on a pair of errors. However, both were caught stealing.
Kell also struck out seven of the first nine batters she faced.
And, with Maddie McKay also a threat in the circle, Garner definitely has that 1-2 punch.
"They compliment each other well," Garner said. "Lizzie has worked really hard, as well as Maddie. I couldn't ask anything better. They have a lot of grit and different tricks. It's certainly nice to have what we have in both of them."
After Oak Glen (15-0) stranded two runners in the first inning, the Golden Bears were able to plate four runs in the third. Emma Renfro led the inning off by getting hit by a pitch. Sydney Brown then singled.
Although Kell grounded out, she put the first run across the board. McKay then followed her with an RBI single. Sarah Brown belted a triple to put the score at 3-0. Olivia Munoz plated the final run of the inning.
In the fifth, a two-run single by Makayla Zoellers made it 6-0 in favor of Oak Glen.
The Golden Bears' final run crossed the plate on a throwing error in the sixth inning.
"We got to make those adjustments sooner," Linsly coach Paul Recrosio said. "You make those adjustments sooner, you hold them to a few runs less before the last inning, and it's a completely different ballgame. They're playing with a little bit of pressure after we get a few versus having a nice cushion. That's a heckuva team. They got two stud pitchers and have a good shot at winning state. We battled, and we're growing as a team."
And, the growing showed in the seventh inning. Hailey Heitz led off with a single, followed by Gia Recrosio making it to first safely on an error.
That's when Karena Recrosio belted her three-run bomb over the center-field fence to make it 7-3.
After Alyana Cook grounded out, Baleigh Burwell tallied a single. However, the Golden Bears' defense stiffened and secured the final two outs.
"I think we got some bigger schools coming up," Paul Recrosio said. "I think we'll continue to see some real good pitching. Like I told the girls, 'You got to make those adjustments sooner. You can't wait until the last inning to make adjustments.' We got to learn from other people's at-bats and not just our own in order to make those adjustments. Hopefully we'll see a different approach (today)."
Sarah Brown supplied a single, double and triple for Oak Glen, while Sydney Brown and Mckay each had two base knocks.
Oak Glen 7, Linsly 3
Oak Glen 003 021 0 — 7 11 3
Linsly 000 000 3 — 3 3 2
O — Kell wp (8K, 0BB) and Sa. Brown. Sy. Brown 2S; Kell rbi; McKay 2S, rbi; Sa. Brown S, D, T, rbi; Munoz S, rbi; Zoellers 2S, 2rbi.
L — Burwell lp (0K, 1BB) and Cook. K. Recrosio HR, 3rbi.