Division II Regional Semifinal
Logan Elm 8, Jonathan Alder 5
PICKERINGTON — Even after a big fifth inning, Logan Elm entered the seventh inning tied with Jonathan Alder. But that all changed when Taylor Fowler sent a ball over the fence in left-center field.
With two runners on in front of her, the Braves jumped up 8-5 and made it hold up as LE advanced to Friday’s regional championship.
Jaycie Clifton had led off the inning with a walk and Lucy Caplinger singled. After a failed bunt attempt gave the Braves their first out, Fowler came to the plate.
Hitless in her previous at-bats with a walk, Fowler had two strikes on her when she smacked the ball over the fence.
When it came time to play defense, the Braves got the first batter out on a popup to Addison Smith at second and a grounder to Clifton at first was good for the second out. The Braves secured their win when JA’s Abby Bush hit a fly ball to left field where Caplinger was able to secure the ball for the out.
The Braves (20-8) will return to Pickerington High School Central on Friday for a 5 p.m. matchup against Dover (26-3) which beat Unioto 7-1 to advance to the regional final.
The Braves had fallen behind in the game when JA’s Evan Platfoot hit a solo home run in the third and the Pioneers had an RBI single in the fourth for a 2-0 lead.
The top of the fifth began with Lynsay VanHoose and Sadie Binkley both reaching on singles for LE. The runners each moved up at the end of Binkley’s hit setting up Ryleigh Wolfe who laid down a bunt. The Pioneers went for the out at home, but VanHoose beat the throw and Wolfe was safe at first.
A groundout from Clifton allowed Katie Wilson (running for Binkley) to score and tie the game.
A single by Caplinger brought in another run for a 3-2 LE advantage.
Peyton Richendollar doubled to left, which moved Caplinger to third.
After the second out was recorded, Tia Fowler singled to center to bring in two more runs and make LE’s lead 5-2.
Four hits in the bottom of the fifth closed the gap to 5-4 and the Pioneers tied the game in the sixth when Platfoot hit a one-out RBI double.
The Braves had 13 hits in the contest. Caplinger had three of them and scored twice. VanHoose, Binkley and Wolfe each had two hits.
Binkley went all seven innings to earn the win in the circle. She gave up the five earned runs on 11 hits with two walks and she struck out six.
