Planets’ upset bid taken away
WEXFORD — Mars was thinking upset. North Hills was thinking comeback.
The latter happened.
The No. 2 seed Indians scored four times in the bottom of the seventh inning on Monday at North Allegheny, securing a 9-8 WPIAL Class 5A softball playoff victory over the Planets.
“We were playing from behind all day,” North Hills coach Libby Gasior said. “Every time we would come close (on the scoreboard), they would tack a couple more on.
“We preach to our girls all the time. No matter what the situation looks like, just keep on playing.”
After building a 5-0 lead in the first two innings, 15th-seeded Mars (6-13) saw North Hills (14-4) pull within 6-5 by the end of the fifth inning. But Stephanie Esswein’s RBI double and Gabby Rapport’s run-scoring single in the sixth extended the Planet lead to 8-5.
“I’m so proud of our girls,” Mars coach Mike Bell said. “They (North Hills) probably saw this 2 vs. 15 matchup and figured they had a walk-over. But we fought them hard for seven innings.”
Trailing by that 8-5 score in the bottom of the seventh, the Indians’ Addyson Wrigley drew a walk to start the frame. Abby Sutton got a fly ball to deep right that Abby Robinson hauled in, just in front of the fence. Savannah Bodnar cracked a run-scoring double to left and Emma Culver drew a walk.
Natalie Anzaldi drove a ball into the right-center gap that Robinson tried making a diving catch on. The ball caromed off her body and rolled toward center field. Anzaldi wound up with a two-run triple and the game was tied.
“That was a tough one,” Bell said. “Just a bad break.”
An intentional walk and fielder’s choice loaded the bases with one out. With the Mars infield drawn in, Kaylee Bischoff hit a hard ground ball that deflected off the shortstop’s glove and into shallow left field as the winning run scored.
“I give a lot of credit to Mars,” Gasior said. “They came up in the first inning and smoked the ball.”
Mars scored four runs in the top of the first. Consecutive singles by Tessa Simoni, Laura Craska and Esswein started the game and produced a run. Craska scored when Esswein’s single got past the right fielder for an error. Rapport doubled in a run and Robinson singled her in.
Craska hit a sacrifice fly in the second frame to extend the Mars lead to 5-0.
“That four-run first was a big confidence boost for us. Really, it carried us through the rest of the game,” Bell said. “That North Hills team can hit the ball. We knew it was gonna take nine or 10 runs to win this game.”
Mars banged out 14 hits. Rapport had a double, three singles and two RBI while Esswein produced a double, two singles, two RBI and two runs scored. Craska had a pair of singles and two runs scored.
Wrigley had a double, single and three runs scored for North Hills.
“This is Mars’ first playoff appearance in six years and we started three freshmen,” Bell said. “We’re losing three senior starters. With six starters back, I think the program is on the right track.”
Second baseman Esswein, catcher Taylor Schmitt and third baseman Mayson Kennedy were the senior starters for Mars. Other seniors on the team are Marley Peterman, Adela Schrecengost and Madison Lambert.
Mars 410 012 0 — 8 14 1
North Hills 000 320 4 — 9 11 3
1 out when winning run scored
WP: Abby Sutton 7IP (4so, 1bb). LP: Gabby Rapport 7IP (2so, 5bb).
Mars (6-13): Tessa Simoni 1B, Laura Craska 2-1B RBI 2-R, Stephanie Esswein 2B 2-1B 2-RBI 2-R, Allie Walukiewicz 1B, Gabby Rapport 2B 3-1B 2-RBI, Abby Robinson 1B RBI, Taylor Schmitt 1B RBI, Callie Simoni 1B.
North Hills (14-4): Kaylee Bischoff 2-1B RBI, Addyson Wrigley 2B 1B RBI 3-R, Abby Sutton 1B RBI, Savannah Bodnar 2B 1B RBI 2-R, Emma Culver 2-1B 2-RBI, Natalie Anzaldi 3B 2-RBI, Addison Winner 2-1B RBI.
Wednesday: WPIAL Cl;ass 5A playoffs-North HIlls vs. Thomas Jefferson, site and time TBA
