Warriors Show Their Heart In State Semis Loss
The Mardela softball season came to an end Wednesday, and not in the way the team had dreamed for.
Disappointing? Of course.
But should they still be proud? Absolutely.
The Warriors had every reason to quit on themselves being down 9-1 early. But Head Coach Kory Shiles didn’t give up on his girls. And more importantly, they didn’t give up on themselves. While they were never able to push the tying run across, Mardela battled back to give themselves a shot late, but just ran out of time in a 9-5 loss to Boonsboro.
Mardela would jump out to a lead in the bottom of the first after Sydney Geortzen was able to draw a walk to get on base. After she stole second, a ground out would advance her to third. That’s when Kasey Goshorn would turn on a pitch for a RBI single to right. The lead was short lived though as Boonsboro came alive at the plate in the second.
Back to back errors to open the inning would put runners on 1st and 2nd before the hits began to pile up. They would drive in 5 runs on their way to taking the lead. Boonsboro wasn’t done just yet though, as they went on to add 4 more runs in the 4th to seemingly build an insurmountable lead. Mardela could’ve rolled over at that point, and no one would’ve blamed them.
But they didn’t.
Kalie Adkins would begin to find her groove on the bump as she controlled Boonsboro’s lineup the rest of the way. In the 5th, Mardela would work the bases loaded with no out, and have a chance to get back in the game. However and strike out and infield fly would give them a pair of outs, before a turning point in the game. A shot was hit towards short, where the runner would cross in front of the infielder on her way to 3rd. Boonsboro’s short would mishandle the grounder, allowing what appeared to be a run to come in, before the umps ruled interference, negating the run, and ending the rally.
Again, Mardela could’ve quit.
But they weren’t ready to give up on their season just yet.
The Warriors showed their heart in the 6th with a big rally. They would work the bases loaded before Goertzen would send a shot to left that would bring in a pair of runs, as she got to 2nd for a double. That was followed by a RBI sac fly to center, before a RBI single to right by Goshorn. Mardela was back within 4, and not done with the inning just yet.
The Warriors showed their patience at the plate, drawing a pair of walks, as they would load the bases with 2 down. The rally would come to an end though after a short pop up would end the inning. Adkins then would work herself out of a 2nd and 3rd with 1 out jam in the 7th, to give Mardela a chance in the 7th. The Warriors would get the leadoff runner on, but couldn’t get the hits they needed, as their rally would come up an inning short.
