WAYNESBORO – It was one of those games.
It was a game that the Waynesboro Maidens should have lost. But they didn’t.
Somehow, someway – it might have been the second pitching change that brought in junior righty Alexis Thompson. It could have been familiarity with Shippensburg’s starting pitcher after seeing her once through the batting order. It could have been an offensive eruption beginning in the third inning and the Maidens trailing 9-2.
It could have been all of the above. Whatever “it” was, Waynesboro orchestrated one of the best comebacks in team history, as the Maidens scored the final nine runs of the game to defeat Shippensburg 11-9 in a Mid-Penn Colonial Division varsity softball game on an overcast and muggy afternoon.
“It gave us a lift,” said Waynesboro coach Troy Witte of Thompson’s entrance into the game with two outs in the top of the third inning and the Greyhounds leading 9-2. “She got us out of the inning and came out in the next inning and shut them down. She mixed it up and kept her pitches low. The defense played well behind her.”
It was the second game this week for Waynesboro (7-11). On Monday, the Maidens lost at Northern, 8-4. They are back on the road Wednesday as they face James Buchanan in a league game. Waynesboro hosts Carlisle next Tuesday in the regular season finale.
Shippensburg scored four innings in the top of the first inning, resulting in the team’s first pitching change. Starter Emma Bradley gave way to Abby McElroy. McElroy allowed two runs in the second inning and four more in the third stanza, resulting in Thompson’s grand entrance.
Waynesboro came to life in the bottom of the third inning, scoring four runs to make it 9-6. Zoie Singrey led off with a walk. Bradley singled. Riley Shetler then delivered a two-run double and scored ahead of Lydia Shank who belted a two-run home run to center field.
“We were still down, but we made it close. They hit two of our best pitchers (Emma Bradley and Abby McElroy). I knew it was time for a change.”
In the top of the fourth inning, with the knowledge that Shippensburg’s offense was so far highly potent, Thompson calmly got out the first two batters – first on a ground out from second baseman McElroy to first baseman Singrey. After striking out the next batter, Thompson yielded a base hit. Not to worry, Thompson snagged a low line drive to end the inning.
The Maidens went right to work at the plate by scoring three runs to tie the game. Breanna McIlquham singled and Singrey walked. Bradley drove both of the home with a double. She scored on Shank’s double.
Shank had a whale of a game. She doubled twice and homered and drove in four runs. Singray reached base all four times at bat (three by walk) and scored three runs. Bradley made Singray-
Bradley a nice one-two punch as she also reached base all four times, including two doubles and three runs scored.
Thompson provided the proverbial sigh of relief with her pitching, and coupled with a solid defense behind her, she allowed only two base runners in the final four innings.
