Canton softball rallies for district win.
By: Brian Fees | Towanda Daily Review | May 21, 2014 | Photo courtesy Brian Fees
2014 NTL and District 4 News
CANTON - For five innings things weren't looking good for the Canton softball team on Tuesday.
After two first-inning runs the Warriors had given up four straight runs to Montgomery who held a 4-2 lead with just two innings to go.
After waiting their whole careers to play in a district game Kellsy Ross and the Warriors players listened to the words of their coaches.
"The coach told us near the end, this might be our last game," Ross said.
Facing the end of their season the Warriors responded, coming up with a seven-run sixth inning on their way to a 9-4 victory.
"It's great to keep the season going," Ross said.
The Warriors got off to a great start on Tuesday as Maggy Machmer drew a one-out walk in the first inning and Lacy Castle reached on an error. A two-out hit by Kayla Ward drove in both runners to make it 2-0.
From there it was all Muncy for the next four innings.
Reilly Gearhart walked and Lexi McHenry singled in the second and both came around to score and in the third Francesca Shreck and Rachel Hite singled and both scored on a McHenry double.
Both runs were helped by some small ball by the Red Raiders, who got a sacrifice bunt in the second and were threatening to bunt a number of times.
"It helped after we saw it early, then we started to move in more," Ross said.
For Ross after allowing a few runs early, she was hoping the offense would come alive late.
"I was hoping the team had my back on the field, and they did," she said.
The sixth inning started with a Ward single and a Lauryn Watkins walk.
For Canton after a few innings of swinging at the first pitch, a patient approach in the sixth paid off.
"I thought it helped a lot," Ward said. "Our offense started to come alive then."
"We got a chance to see some pitches," Ross added.
With two runners on Whitney Bailey hit into a fielder's choice on a ball toward third, but she was safe at first. A pair of passed balls allowed Ward and Watkins to score tying the game at four.
Kayla Shay hit a drive down the left field line that the leftfielder appeared to catch as Bailey tagged and scored. However, the ball came free keeping the at-bat alive.
"I thought I get another chance," Shay said.
And, with another chance Shay delivered, driving a fly ball over the left-field fence to put the Warriors up 6-4.
"I just thought it was a hit to the outfield," Shay said.
As she saw the ball leave the park Shay realized how big of a hit it was.
"It felt really good," she said.
After an out Ross and Maggy Machmer both walked and Castle singled, before Makenzy Route delivered a 3-run double to cap the scoring in the game.
"This feels really nice," Ward said of the win.
For Canton one of the keys in the game was that eight different players either scored, or drove in runs.
"It really helped a lot that everyone came through," Ross said.
For the seniors it was nice to get their first district win in the first district game in five years for Canton.
"This is really nice for the seniors," Ross said. "We worked really hard all year as a team."
For the rest of the players it's good to get a taste of winning in districts to build for the future.
"It will be really nice," Ward said. "I hope next year we re-build again and maybe do this next year too."
Canton will head to top-seeded Muncy at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday and this win is something they hope they can build from.
"We are pretty excited, hopefully we can keep it going," Ross said.
And, the win gave them some added confidence.
"It does give me more confidence," Shay said.
Shay led the Canton offense going 2-for-2 with a double and the home run. Both of her drives were deep down the left-field line.
"I guess it was perfect pitching for me," she said.
Ross finished with a hit and a run and Machmer scored two runs.
Castle had a hit and two runs, Route had a double and three RBI and Ward had two hits, a run and two RBI.
Watkins and Bailey each scored runs.
Ross struck out two and allowed five hits and four runs, two earned, to get the win.
McHenry led Montgomery with two hits, a double, two RBI and a run.
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