The result was a 2-1 triumph over Perrysburg in a Division I state semifinal, giving West its first taste of victory in four trips to the Final Four and leaving the Firebirds one win away from a state championship.
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“Very happy for these girls and very happy for the whole Lakota West softball family, and that’s a big family from 21 years ago when we started,” West coach Keith Castner said. “We finally got to a final game. Now we’ve got to hopefully finish the job on Saturday.”
The Firebirds (26-3) will return to Firestone Stadium for the D-I title game Saturday at 1 p.m. The opponent will be Massillon Perry (24-5), a 12-3 winner over Ashville Teays Valley in Thursday’s second semifinal.
West reached the last game of the season behind senior pitcher Stephanie Maldonado, who tossed an eight-hitter, and the heroics of Cummins.
“It’s a highlight of my career and something that I’m glad that I’m leaving with West,” said Cummins, the Firebirds’ all-time home-run leader with 26. “I was 0-for-3, and I was looking for a pitch that I could just make contact with.
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“The intention wasn’t to hit it over the fence. The intention was to get myself on base so that my teammates could move me around because I know they’re 110 percent capable of that.”
Perrysburg senior pitcher Bri Pratt, who’s headed for Miami University, said the pitch was a changeup.
“It was supposed to bounce,” Pratt said. “But it did not.”
Cummins said she knew it was gone when she connected with the ball.
“I was confident,” she said. “I knew that I was not going to go 0-for-4. There was not a chance. I would’ve leaned into one before I went 0-for-4.”
The bottom of the eighth wasn’t a breeze for West. Mars Deemer cracked a one-out double to the fence in left-center and was replaced on base by Jordyn Bogdanski.
Pratt then lifted a single into short center field off Cummins’ glove, but Bogdanski got caught off the bag at second for out No. 2. Brooke Miller popped out to end the game.
Perrysburg coach Ryan DeMars watched his team make a couple base-running mistakes in finishing 30-3.
“We were not being who we have been, and I think it was just a lack of focus,” DeMars said. “We made some mental errors that cost us. I do not think we adjusted very well to the pitcher, and that was a key.”
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Maldonado did what Maldonado does, which is keep hitters off balance. She had one strikeout and three walks, and the only run she allowed came in the first inning.
“I was kind of nervous and stressed out at first with it being such a big stadium and the pressure being put on me,” Maldonado said. “But then I started to relax and rely on my defense, knowing that I’m very confident in them.
“I was trying to produce contact and just let my defense do their job. My curve was definitely not working, but my rise and my screw were jamming people and producing pop-ups, which is what we wanted.
“I told people as the game went on, know who you’re playing for. Know that you’re playing for your team and not yourself. It was just to make sure that we were staying relaxed.”
Cameron Wesley doubled and tripled for the Firebirds. That double plated Taylor Williams, who walked, in the second inning.
“I know I haven’t been hitting great this year, but my hitting coach said it only matters in the postseason,” said Wesley, a junior first baseman and Wright State University commit. “So I’m glad that it’s going well in the postseason.”
The Yellow Jackets left six runners on base. West stranded seven runners, four on third base.
“I just know that these girls seem to come through, whether it’s the end of the game or the beginning of the game or when there’s two outs or two strikes,” Castner said. “That’s why we’ve been successful this year.”
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Deemer and Pratt both had two hits for Perrysburg, and Miller delivered an RBI single. Pratt struck out six and walked three in her five-hitter.
“We only give up two runs in eight innings … we’ve got to be able to win that game. We just couldn’t get the offense clicking today,” DeMars said. “First and foremost, I’m just extremely proud of our girls and the season that they put together. A state Final Four appearance is awesome. I think this is a step in a wonderful direction for our program.”
It was the third state berth for Perrysburg. The Yellow Jackets made it to state in 1990 and 1991, winning the title in ’91.
“It’s definitely a once-in-a-lifetime thing,” said Miller, one of four Perrysburg seniors. “It was really cool to make it this far.”
“Our season was amazing,” Pratt added. “I couldn’t be any more thankful for the girls. They’ve been my family. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
Lakota West 010-000-01—2-5-0
Perrysburg 100-000-00—1-8-1
WP — Stephanie Maldonado (21-2); LP — Bri Pratt (24-1); HR — L: Allie Cummins. Records: L 26-3, P 30-3
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