The Sheridan softball team blasted to a seventh-inning comeback Wednesday in the first semi-final at Class 1A Sectional 54 at Rossville, scoring three runs to get past South Newton 8-7 and advance to tonight’s championship game.
The Blackhawks got off to a good start, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Allie Delph got the first run on a passed ball, then Riley Reed scored when Addyson Ream reached on error. Ream was sent home by a Caitlin Neese base hit.
South Newton got a run back in the top of the second inning, but Sheridan added two in the bottom of the inning. Katy Crail sent a triple into right field, then got home on Delph’s single. Delph stole second base and then went home on Reed’s center field hit.
That put the Blackhawks up 5-1. But South Newton scored three runs in the third inning, then took the lead in the fifth with three more runs. Neither team scored again until the bottom of the seventh.
Going into that inning, Sheridan trailed 7-5. But the ‘Hawks worked quickly to get in a winning position. Delph led off with a single, stole second base and moved to third base on an error. Delph scored when Reed reached on error, eventually getting to second.
Ream came up and hit a single, then moved to second. Reed advanced to third base. After the Blackhawks absorbed a pop out, Taylor Bates came up to bat and nailed a triple into left field, sending both Reed and Ream home and getting Sheridan the win.
Delph was 3-for-4 at the plate and also stole four bases. Ream pitched the last two innings for the win.
The ‘Hawks will play host Rossville at 6 p.m. tonight for the Sectional 54 championship. The Hornets beat Frontier 12-3 in the second semi-final.
SHERIDAN 8, SOUTH NEWTON 7
Sheridan AB R H RBI
Katy Crail 4 1 1 0
Allie Delph 4 3 3 1
Riley Reed 2 2 1 2
Addyson Ream 3 2 1 1
Caitlin Neese 3 0 1 1
Taylor Bates 3 0 1 2
Makayla Clark 3 0 0 0
Kendra Blankenship 3 0 0 0
Maelei Casler 3 0 1 0
Totals 28 8 9 7
Score by Innings
South Newton 013 030 0 – 7 7 6
Sheridan 320 000 3 – 8 9 3
3B: Bates, Crail. SB: Delph 4, Reed. SAC: Reed 2, Bates, Ream.
Sheridan pitching IP R ER H
Casler 2 4 3 1
Delph 3 3 3 4
Ream (W) 2 0 0 2
Strikeouts: Ream 3, Delph 2, Casler 1. Walks: Casler 5, Delph 3.