Extra-inning win over West Liberty puts girls in final

by KORI CONLEY

Sports correspondent

Last Thursday, the Lade Dukes lived the expression "it isn't over until it's over," in a semi-final game against West Liberty Salem.

Salem's Haleigh Hickenbottom, who only had one home run all season, smashed a pitch over the left field fence and gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead in the top of the seventh inning.

It seemed as if all the wind had been taken out of the Lady Dukes' sails.

"It was a curve ball that didn't move much," pitcher Melanie Conklin said.

Both pitchers seemed to be in their zones all afternoon; it seemed that whoever slipped up was going to come up with the short end of the stick. It's ironic that the player that seemed to have dropped the ball had Wellington's season in her hands which were wrapped around a bat.

Conklin stepped up to the plate with two outs and only Brooke Lewis on first. West Liberty's pitcher Emily Kauffman put it right in Conklin's sweet spot and she belted a triple which brought Lewis home to tie the score at 1-1.

Conklin stepped up to the plate with two outs and only Brooke Lewis on first. West Liberty's pitcher Emily Kauffman put it right in Conklin's sweet spot and she belted a triple which brought Lewis home to tie the score at 1-1.

The Lady Dukes put together an outstanding defensive inning in the top of eight to get back at their bats. After Conklin's triple, the Tigers appeared shaken.

Wellington's Callie McConnell got on base after a passed ball on a strike out, which put the winning run on first. Melissa Sawyer's sacrifice bunt put McConnell on second.

Christy King came up to the plate with only one out and McConnell on second as she ripped a hard grounder to West Liberty's short stop, Abbey Ledford, who overthrew first base which led to the winning run brought in off an error.

The Lady Dukes not only flaunted their muscles, but also kept their heads in a ball game when they could've easily given up.

"It's pretty exciting, hopefully we go all the way," Conklin said. Wellington Coach Tom Roth seemed to be in rare form after the victory. He wasn't his normal calm self.

He was excited with the Lady Dukes' win, and how could you not be after a barn burner like that?