Lakers lose heartbreaker in first district final

OAK HARBOR — With the game on the line, the littlest of things can decide the outcome, and that was never more true than in Gibsonburg's 4-3 win over Danbury in a Division IV district final. After Gibsonburg pitcher Jenna Bloomfield broke a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the sixth inning with an RBI single, Laker left fielder Maci Brown drew a walk and stole second with Michaela Harris at the plate to start off the seventh. On an 0-1 count, Harris laid down a bunt that Golden Bears third baseman Maddalynn Hannigan fielded and threw to first to get Harris by half a step. Brown, who was stealing third on the play, broke for home plate, only to be tagged just short of scoring by catcher Cheyenne Reese. Bloomfield proceeded to strike out the next batter, ending the game and sending Gibsonburg into a frenzy. "(Brown) was running on the pitch, (and) it was a good bunt," said Danbury coach Jim Fish. "On the throw to first, I thought she could make it home. I'd do it again. "That's a situation where she has such great speed and she was stealing." Gibsonburg is now 19-5 and will play in a regional semifinal while Danbury finishes 19-10. The game was filled with plenty of twists and turns as the Lakers rallied from a 3-0 deficit to score three runs in the top of the sixth. After tying the score, Ellie Fish nearly got out of the bottom half of the inning, but Bloomfield lined a 1-2 pitch to left field with two outs to score Leah Hall from second base, giving the Bears the lead for good. It started when Hall reached on a dropped pop up on the infield. Then Karley Mendoza popped out to Danbury pitcher Ellie Fish and Mariah McNett drew a walk as Fish just missed getting the call on a full count. Fish struck out Aryah Ritchie and worked a 1-2 count on Bloomfield before she came through with the key hit. "We've been fairly successful (pitching to Bloomfield)," said Jim Fish. "When we do pitch to her with a low-drop inside ball, that pitch (is) supposed to be unhittable, and (Ellie) missed it a little bit." Trailing 3-0 after five innings, Danbury catcher Alera Masters drew a one-out walk in the top of the sixth inning. Ellie Fish hit an infield single to third base, Ella McDonald hit an 0-2 pitch up the middle, scoring Masters, and with a wild throw home, Fish scored and McDonald moved up to third. Miranda Evans followed that up with a base hit to score McDonald, tying the score at 3-3. Moriah Hatfield reached on a single, but Bloomfield, who came into the game with a 16-4 record and a 1.18 ERA, retired the next two batters. It was easily the best season in program history for the Lakers, who had never won a sectional title until now. That's because the team took its play to another level during the second half of the season. "That (comeback) has been a trademark during the second half of the season," Jim Fish said. "We're a developing program. We have some experienced players, but we have a few younger players. This season, we've been learning to play from the first pitch to the last pitch. "The growth, development, learning how to play the game, the girls are working hard at it. They just have to play games and understand what it takes to win. That will to win, having a common goal, learning to win and developing an understanding of the game is important." The Bears scored once in the first inning and twice in the fourth. Fish talked about the team rallying from a 3-0 deficit with just six outs left. "The girls have a strong will to win," he said. "They're learning that it only takes one inning to strike some hits together. "I see the program developing right before my eyes. It makes me feel like the program is growing and moving in the right direction." It was the final game for seniors Sarah Collins and Alyssa Jenkins. "We wouldn't be a complete team without them," said Fish. "They were very important contributors. Sarah has been here for four years and Alyssa transferred before her junior season. She was a huge asset. Both of them bring an enthusiasm to the team." Danbury 000 003 0 — 3Gibsonburg 100 201 x — 4 WP: Bloomfield. LP: Fish