By TIM BIRNEYValley Sports Report
WAVERLY — Thanks to a shaky defensive effort, Waverly twice found itself down five runs, and twice closed the gap to two runs, but couldn't get any closer in a 10-8 loss to Oneonta here Wednesday afternoon in the semifinals of the Section IV, Class A softball playoffs.
"We made six (errors) today ... we just shot ourselves in the foot," said Waverly coach Brent Doane. "When you play against a team like (Oneonta) in a game of this magnitude, six error is going to cost you every time, and it did cost us dearly today.
"I think Taylin (Gonzalez) pitched an outstanding game. I think she only gave up two or three earned runs," noted Doane. "If we hold them to those two or three earned runs, we're right in the ball game and it's tight down to the wire.
"Instead, we're scrapping and scratching to get back in the game," he added. "At the end of the day, we have to play better defense."
Waverly trailed 5-0 before plating three runs in the home half of the third inning, then trailed 10-3 heading into the bottom of the sixth when it scored five runs.
"It took a while for our offense to get going, and when we finally started rolling, we started putting some balls in play," said Doane. "We hit a lot of stuff right at them, and they made the plays, so a tip of the cap to them.
"The kids didn't give up at all," he noted. "They persevered through the whole game. That's kind of been our MO all year.
"We really haven't rolled over for anybody," added Doane. "We've always fought. And today we just came up a little bit short."
With two outs in the top of the first inning, Oneonta stroked three consecutive singles. A fourth single made it 2-0, and an outfield misplay on that single allowed two more runs to score to give the Yellowjackets a 4-0 lead.
In the third inning, Oneonta added a run on a two-out double and another error to up its lead to 5-0.
In the home half of the third inning, junior Lecksie Douglas and senior Maddie Cron each stroked one-out singles, then scored on a ringing two-run double by freshman Taylin Gonzalez that one-hopped against the right-field fence.
Gonzalez moved to third on a passed ball, and scored on a wild pitch to close the gap to 5-3.
Gonzalez struck out the side in the top of the fourth, and retired the lead-off hitter in the fifth inning, but a misplayed grounder and a dropped fly ball set the stage for a five-run inning for the Yellowjackets that stretched the lead to 10-3.
Gonzalez belted a two-out double in the fifth, but was stranded at second base.
Bubniak led off the home half of the sixth inning with a single, and Delaney Wheeler reached on a fielder's choice to put runners on first and second.
With one out and runners on second and third, sophomore Melanie Skovira ripped a hard groundball two-run single into center field to trim the deficit to 10-5.
Junior Kaiya Horton kept the rally going with a line-drive single to left field, and Lecksie Douglas loaded the bases with an infield single.
Cron plated a run with a fielder's choice when a throw home on a groundball pulled the catcher off the plate, making it 10-6.
Gonzalez then hit a fly ball that dropped in behind second base for an RBI single to make it 10-7.
Junior Hannah Carpenter capped the scoring with a groundout that plated a run to close the gap to 10-8. Waverly's comeback bid ended via a strikeout with the tying run on second base.
Gonzalez recorded the first two outs of the seventh inning, then allowed a pair of hits, sandwiched around a walk to load the bases, but was able to induce a pop-up to Bubniak at third base to end the threat.
Waverly was then retired in order in the bottom of the seventh.
Gonzalez had three hits, including a pair of doubles, one run scored, and three RBI to pace Waverly's 11-hit attack, while Douglas singled twice and scored two runs, and Bubniak singled twice, scored one run, and drove in one run.
Skovira singled, scored one run, and had two RBI for the Wolverines, while Cron singled, scored one run, and drove in one run, Delaney Wheeler, and Horton each singled and scored one run, and Carpenter had one RBI.
Gonzalez was tagged with the loss. She allowed two earned runs on eight hits, while striking out seven and walking two in seven innings.
Waverly wraps up its season at 14-6, and will graduate just two seniors in Cron and Delaney Wheeler.
"Those seniors are two very special kids," said Doane. "They've been here with me since I was hired for the program three years ago.
"There's nobody better with the glove at first base than Delaney Wheeler," he noted. "We are going to miss her big time.
"Maddie Cron transitioned from third base to center field this season and she's been outstanding," said Doane. "She's done a little bit of everything for us. She's hit for power, she stole some bases, she hits the gaps, and she's been a leader.
"Those two young ladies are gonna be sorely missed," added Doane. "They're going be hard to replace."
The Wolverines started three juniors, one sophomore, two freshman and an 8th-grader Wednesday.
"The cupboard is not bare," said Doane. "I'd like to think that we might be able to reload.
"We've got some good talent returning, and we've got some good talent coming up through the ranks," noted Doane. "The pipeline looks good right now.
"So, I'm excited for what the future holds," added Doane.
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IN PHOTO 1: Waverly's Taylin Gonzalez. ... PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.
