Girls falter in final game but Lady Dukes still champions at home

by PAUL KING

Sports correspondent

After the dramatic finish to the state semifinal game last Wednesday, Wellington's vibe was at a high. Three days later and the vibe had reached even greater heights.

It was the biggest game that any Wellington team has ever found themselves in. The Lady Dukes (23-5) traveled to Firestone Park in Akron to take on the state's number one ranked team, Hebron Lakewood (32-2) in the Division III state championship.

As soon as the girls arrived at Firestone Park they were against all odds. They were perhaps the only team to arrive in an original school bus, or in other words the school's new "Cadillac." They were the only team in the Final Four that was not ranked and they were probably the only team that had almost the whole town there supporting them.

The Lady Dukes were ready for the challenge and wanted to continue making a name for themselves and the small community of Wellington. Following two scoreless innings Lakewood gained momentum in the third with a five-run burst. The Dukes could have folded and put their heads down but you wouldn't see that from this year's team. It's something they have been dealing with since the regular season ended.

"A lot of people thought when we lost conference we were going to be done in districts," Melissa Rennie said. "It shows we have a lot of heart."

The Lady Dukes chipped away at the five-run lead in the fifth. Christy King was hit by a pitch and Brittany Gow followed with a one out walk. Melanie Conklin smoked a double to center with two outs to cut the deficit to 5-2.

Rennie tattooed an inside fastball to left on a full count to lead off the sixth with her sixth home run of the season. With Conklin retiring 12 of the last 14 batters she faced, the Dukes had one more chance to make a rally in the bottom of the seventh, behind 5-3.

Gow led off with a single then Brooke Lewis reached on an error. Conklin singled for her second hit of the game. Cassie Gleisner flied out and pinch runner Morgan Brasee was thrown out at home on the same play. Rennie chopped one to the shortstop to end the game.

Conklin faced two less batters (28) and allowed one less hit than Lakewood's pitcher, an Indiana University recruit. The Dukes stranded six runners on base, had only one error and one more hit than Lakewood but weren't able to overcome the odds.

"Our hearts brought us this far and we had talent," said Melanie Conklin. "We deserve this and there was nothing more we could ask for."

The Lady Dukes finished an exciting season 23-5 with an unforgettable trek late in the postseason. Coach Tom Roth had several positive comments following the championship game.

"Outstanding effort all around. The kids played tough in and out, up and down the lineup, people came through," Roth said. "Great season overall."