WINNING PITCHER AND GAME-WINNING HIT … Giada Rising got the win in the circle in relief of starter Kelsy Connolly and delivered the game-winning RBI on a double in the 11th inning. VIEW 118 PHOTOS OF THIS CONTEST FOR FREE AT WWW.THEVILLAGEREPORTER.COM
By: Nate Calvin
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
sports@thevillagereporter.com
BRYAN (May 13, 2024) – In a game full of twist and turns, Giada Rising doubled to left field for the game-winning RBI as Hilltop picked up a 5-4 walk-off win over Edgerton in the Division IV district semifinals at Recreation Park in Bryan.
The teams combined for 26 hits and 15 errors and both clubs had their chances to end it before extra frames.
Hilltop got on the board first in their first time at bat as Halle Jones singled to center and Kenley Routt reached on an error.
A Brooklyn Kuszmaul groundout moved the runners to second and third before Shea Brown would single to center to score two runs for an early 2-0 Hilltop lead.
Kelsy Connolly then singled, and another Edgerton error placed runners on the corners, but Edgerton starter Corinne Cape would get a popout and strikeout to end the frame.
The Bulldogs would draw even in the second inning as Ella Miler and Alivia Farnham each reached on an error sandwiched a groundout and popout.
With two outs, Kennedy Stuut delivered with a single to the right to bring home Farnham and Miler to tie the game at 2-2.
Edgerton took the lead in the third as Casey Everetts doubled but Hilltop starting pitcher Connolly would retire the next two Bulldogs.
It was Miler’s turn for a two-out hit as her single to center scored Everetts and put Edgerton in front 3-2.
Edgerton had a golden opportunity in the seventh to extend their lead as the first three Edgerton batters would single to load the bases with no outs.
Hilltop’s defense responded by cutting down two runners at home plate as Miler hit into a fielder’s choice that led to Everetts being forced out at home and Cape was caught stealing home as she tried to score on a wild pitch one batter later.
Connolly finished off the Houdini like escape by getting Nessa Cox to groundout to shortstop to end the inning and keep the score at 3-2.
Hilltop kept the momentum going in the bottom of the seventh with Elena VanArsdalen and Jones each getting on base via an error.
After Routt hit into a fielder’s choice for the first out of the inning, Kuszmaul singled to center to score Jones to tie the game, but Routt was gunned down at the plate with the potential game-winning run in the same sequence to keep the game tied at 3-3.
The 10th inning saw the Bulldogs again do damage with two outs as Farnham, who singled earlier in the frame, scored on Lola Giesige’s single and throwing error by Hilltop to grab a 4-3 lead.
Faced again with elimination the Cadets answered with singles by Brown and Sophia Crossgrove and Isabella Ackley reached on an error to load the sacks with two outs.
VanArsdalen then walked to score Rising who had reached earlier on a fielder’s choice, to tie the game at 4-4.
Jones then grounded into fielder’s choice with bases still loaded, thus sending the game to the 11th inning.
With one out in the home half of the 11th, Kuszmaul singled to the left side, and moved to second on an error during the play to put the game-winning run in scoring position for the Cadets.
Brown followed by getting aboard via an error and moved Kuszmaul to third which led to an Edgerton pitching change with Olivia Wallace now in the circle.
Wallace would strikeout the first hitter she faced before Rising drove a 2-1 pitch to left field for a double, scoring Kuszmaul and sending Hilltop to the district finals.
Rising got the win for the Cadets after five innings in relief of Connolly and Jones and Brown had three hits apiece.
Edgerton starter Cape took a no-decision after going 10 1/3 allowing five runs, just one earned, on 12 hits with six strikeouts.
It will be an all-BBC district final on Friday night in Bryan as No. 2 seed Hilltop and No. 3 seed Montpelier will meet for the third time this season, with Hilltop winning the first two, 6-2 and 6-1.
EDGERTON 021 000 000 10 – 4 13 8
HILLTOP 200 000 100 11 – 5 13 7
Records: Edgerton 11-8, Hilltop 23-5
WINNING PITCHER: Rising (5 innings, 5 hits, 1 run, 4 strikeouts, 0 walks) OTHER: Connolly
LOSING PITCHER: Wallace (0.1 innings, 1 hit, 0 runs, 1 strikeout, 0 walks) OTHER: Cape
LEADING HITTERS: (Edgerton) Everetts – double, 2 singles; Miler – double, single, RBI; Stuut – 2 singles, 2 RBIs; Wallace – 2 singles; L. Giesige – 2 singles, RBI; (Hilltop) Jones – 2 doubles, single; Kuszmaul – 2 singles, RBI; Brown – 3 singles, 2 RBIs; Connolly – 2 singles; Rising – double, RBI
