NTL SOFTBALL: CANTON SCORES LATE TO PULL AWAY FROM NP-LIBERTY (2021-04-26)

Northern Tier Sports Report
MANSFIELD — Canton broke open a close game, scoring 11 runs in the final two innings to pull away from NP-Liberty 15-5 in NTL softball action Monday.

The two teams were tied 3-3 after the third inning, with Canton taking a 4-3 lead after the fifth.

Then in the top of the sixth the Warriors scored four runs to go up 8-3. The Mounties answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning to cut it to 8-5.

Canton then exploded for seven runs in the seventh to secure the win.

Molly Ward (3-for-5), and Keri Wesneski (3-for-5) had the biggest bats on the day. Ward finished with a double, triple, three runs scored, and 3-RBI, as Wesneski had a double, two runs and 3-RBI.

Emmi Ward (2-for-4) scored three times, and knocked in a run, as Katie Shay (2-for-5), knocked in four runs, with a run scored.

All told, their top four batters went 10-for-19 on the day.

In the nine spot Marissa Ostrander (3-for-5) had a strong day, with a double, three runs scored, and 2-RBI.

Jillian Shay (1-for-4), Allyson Butcher (1-for-5), and Alexis Baldwin (1-for-5) also had hits. Butcher had an RBI with a run scored, as Baldwin scored twice.

Jillian Shay got the win, striking out two with two walks, 11 hits, and five runs, two of which were earned.

After two scoreless innings Canton broke through in the top of the third, as Ostrander and Molly Ward both reached on 1-out errors. After a ground out, an error off the bat of Wesneski scored both Ostrander and Ward to put Canton up 2-0. Katie Shay then singled Wesneski in for the 3-0 lead.

NPL would tie it up in the bottom half of the inning, with it remaining that way until the fifth, when Emmi Ward led off the inning with a single. She would score on a Wesneski double to put the Warriors up 4-3.

Then, in the sixth, Canton was at it again, this time with Baldwin reaching on an error. After an out Ostrander doubled her in to put Canton up 5-3.

Molly Ward then doubled to bring Ostrander in, followed by Emmi Ward singling. Molly Ward would score off an error, then Emmi Ward scored off a Wesneski hit to make it 8-3.

NPL added two more runs to cut it to 8-5, before Canton put the game away in the seventh.

Butcher would get on off a dropped third strike, followed by Baldwin reaching on an error. After an out Ostrander singled in Butcher, and Baldwin to put Canton up 10-5.

Molly Ward’s triple then scored Ostrander, with Ward taking home on an error.

Emmi Ward followed by reaching on an error, then scored on a Wesneski single. Katie Shay singled, followed by Jillian Shay walking to load the bases.

Butcher then singled in Wesneski, and Katie Shay to make it 15-5.

Canton will now host Troy on Wednesday with a 4:30 p.m. start.