Southwick’s Katelyn Sylvia crosses home plate for the game-winning run, courtesy of Emily Petit’s bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Rams won the playoff thriller over the Mount Greylock Mounties 1-0. (Photo by Chris Putz)
SOUTHWICK – The Southwick-Tolland Regional High School softball team saved the best for last, literally.
No. 7 Southwick strung together three consecutive hits before drawing a game-winning, walk-off walk in the bottom of the seventh inning to edge 10th-seeded Mount Greylock 1-0.
Katelyn Sylvia, Sarah Bodzinski, and Alyssa Kelleher hit back-to-back-to-back singles, setting the stage for Emily Petit’s bases-loaded walk to end the game.
“Those three hits in the last inning were fantastic,” said Southwick softball coach Darek Long.
The hits may have been clutch – and clearly indisputable – as they were solid base knocks. But several opposing fans angrily questioned the walk.
The home plate umpire drew the ire of several Monument Mountain fans who questioned a borderline ball four. But the Mounties’ complaints may have proved hollow as a borderline strike call seconds before easily could have been ball four too.
Not to get lost in the late-inning shuffle was the heroic effort of Southwick pitcher Jordyn Willey. Willey scattered five hits, struck out six batters, and walked one in a complete-game effort.
“It was really intense,” Willey said. “I knew I had my defense to back me up. I knew we could do it. …It took awhile, but we got there.”
Coach Long praised his players’ efforts after the dramatic victory.
“This team keeps getting better every year,” he said. “In fact, not even a loss now would ruin it.”
In other games, No. 9 Westfield Voc-Tech fell at No. 8 Renaissance, 9-5, in a D3 tournament opening round game.
