NTL SOFTBALL: WARD'S BASE RUNNING LEADS CANTON PAST MONTGOMERY IN 8TH (2022-05-14)

Northern Tier Sports Report
MONTGOMERY — Canton coach Lyle Wesneski told his team that the playoffs started now as they went into their game against the defending District IV, Class A champions, Montgomery, and they responded with a 1-0 victory in the eighth inning.

The lone run of the game came on an Emmi Ward steal of home on a throwing error to third base. Ward did a delayed steal, got Montgomery pitcher Faith Persing to try and throw her out, and the ball bounced away, allowing Ward to score.

Ward reached on a single in the inning, then stole second to get into scoring position.

“This is a springboard for confidence for them,” Wesneski said about the win. “Playing in tight games is important to build character, see what they’re made of. Everybody contributed in some way, shape, or form.”

Keri Wesneski was strong in the circle to get the shutout, allowing just four hits and two walks, with four strikeouts.

“It was just like Wednesday against Towanda, she moved the ball in and out,” said her coach. “She worked her spin pitch, her curveball was working well. We just played really good defense behind her. The defense behind us made plays all night, including a play at the plate - they threw her out at home. They just executed under pressure, and that’s what you’ve got to do against good teams.”

The Warriors were able to get nine hits off Persing, who finished with nine strikeouts.

Emmi Ward (3-for-4) led the way at the plate, while Wesneski (2-for-4) and Molly Ward (2-for-3), also had multi-hit games. Sara Saar (1-for-4), and even number nine hitter Rylin Graham (1-for-3), chipped in with hits.

The Warriors got runners on in every inning but the seventh, and nearly scored in both the first and sixth innings as they got runners to third base.

Brynn McRae had a second inning triple for Montgomery, but was stranded there. Then in the seventh they got back to back walks with one out, putting the winning run on third base.

However, Wesneski got a strikeout, and a fly-out to end the threat. 

Canton is slated to go to Millville on Monday, then will wait and see how things shake out in the district standings.