OAKLEAF – For the third time this season, No. 4 ranked West Nassau stepped on the field and prepared to face nationally ranked Oakleaf and for the third time the Warriors came up a bit short again.
With two state ranked teams on the field, one would expect another classic game between the two and they got it. An errant throw in the bottom of the eighth allowed host Oakleaf to escape with a 4-3 win in 8 innings.
Lead off batter Rebecca Koskey drew a walk off starter Skylar Whitty, who reentered the game in the seventh, to start the eighth. Baylee Goddard laid down a sac bunt and was gunned at first; however Koskey moved to second on the play and noticed nobody was covering third since third baseman Regan Lee charged toward home and made the put out at first.
Koskey was more than half way to third when Lee threw to third only no one was there to cover third as Lee couldn’t get back to third in time as well as shortstop Emily Dixon. The throw sailed past third and into foul territory down the left field line allowing Koskey to score the winning run.
Another devastating loss for the Warriors, who held a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth and looked well on their way to knocking off the top ranked team in the state.
The Warriors jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second thanks to a Madison Dixon walk and RBI single from Courtney Hengerer allowing Dixon to score from second.
Whitty singled past third with two outs and scored off Madison Dixon RBI single over first base increasing the lead to 2-0 in the fifth inning.
Skylar Whitty was throwing some heat and good mixture pic.twitter.com/27LmUFKN5q
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) April 12, 2018
On the mound, Whitty handcuffed the Knights potent lineup allowing only two hits through five innings; while Oakleaf starter Cambria Arturo struck out 7, allowed 5 hits and two runs in six innings.
Like they did in the Tournament of Champions third place game, Oakleaf finally got to Whitty in the sixth inning. With two outs in the sixth, Kaylee Lambrecht drew a walk and Koskey poked her bat out and was able to get just enough on it to poke a single up the middle scoring Lambrecht.
Goddard reached on a walk chasing Whitty out of the game as Lee moved to the mound with runners on first and second. Madison Mifsud greeted Lee with a RBI single up the middle scoring Koskey from second; while Goddard also scored on an errant throw home putting the Knights up 3-2 heading to the seventh.
Madiisyn Davis came in to close the game but hit Emily Dixon and a errant throw over first base on Goddard on a bunt from Hope Epps allowed Dixon to score all the way from first tying the game and moved Epps to third with no outs. With the possible winning run on third, Davis rebounded to strike out the side to get out of the jam.
Whitty reentered the game in the seventh and quickly got the first two batters out, however a Destiny Pacetti single over third and an intentional walk on Katie Kistler gave the Knights a chance in the seventh. However, a snagged liner to short allowed Whitty to get out of it and force extra innings.
Runners on first and second two outs, tie game Bot 7. pic.twitter.com/Q7Qdjlvpwf
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) April 12, 2018
Winning run at second Bot 7, what will happen ? pic.twitter.com/vPvqsMLtf6
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) April 12, 2018
Davis survived a walk and single with two outs to get out of the eighth unscathed and set up the bottom of the eighth.
For West Nassau its another quality loss on the schedule its sixth loss to a state ranked team, with losses to No. 6 in 7A Columbia (17-3) twice, No. 1 in 8A Oakleaf (18-2) twice, No. 2 in 2A Aucilla Christian (9-3) and No. 1 in 5A Coral Springs Charter (19-2).
While it was another devastating loss for the Warriors, head coach Randalyn Rogers Bryant sees the bigger picture with her team.
“I’ve never worried about our record, we don’t care about wins and losses, its all about preparing for the post season and the playoffs,” Bryant said. “Our goal is to get ready for the post season again that’s why I scheduled Baker County and Suwannee also because their in our region.”
West Nassau (14-6) hosts Bishop Kenny tonight at 6 p.m. on Senior night tonight, while Oakleaf (18-2) travels to Trinity Christian for the Conquerors Senior night.
The Warriors finish the regular season with road games Friday at Baker County and next Tuesday at Bradford before hosting the District 4-5A tournament April 23-26 in Callahan.
Prior to the game, the Public Address System temporarily went out and the national anthem was unable to play, so both teams and the umpires sang it acapella.
No Anthem no problem, umpires, @WNHSsoftball and @knights_ohs sing acapella. Who says softball players are not talented !!!! pic.twitter.com/jZ9dVnHLYN
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) April 11, 2018
