By: Nate Calvin
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
sports@thevillagereporter.com
CLYDE (May 28, 2025) – After seeing an early lead evaporate, the Golden Bears used a double and an error in the bottom of the seventh for a 3-2 win and a second straight trip to the regional finals.
Bryan put two runs on the board in their first at-bat as Josey Arnold started things with a walk and winning pitcher Thea Staten roped a one-out triple to right field to score Arnold.
Amiyah Langham followed that with an infield single to drive home Analicia McCoy-Martinez, who was a courtesy runner for Staten, and make it 2-0 after one inning.
West Geauga would get a baserunner in the second on a walk and a single in the third, but Staten was able to work around both to keep it 2-0 after three innings.
The Wolverines broke through in the fifth as a walk and a Bryan error on a Wolverine bunt put runners at second and third with no outs.
Staten was on the verge of escaping the jam after striking out the next two batters, but Dayana Malone came through with a triple to center to clear the base pads and tie the game 2-2.
West Geauga would get a runner aboard in the sixth and seventh inning but were unable to advance either one, setting the stage for Bryan’s seventh inning walk-off.
Mackenzie Blevins led off the frame by lining a double to center field for the Golden Bears fifth hit on the afternoon.
Emaline Slagle followed with a sacrifice bunt that was fielded by pitcher Lely Percassi and her throw sailed over the head of the first baseman which allowed Mariyah Graves, pinch running for Blevins, to come around with the game-winning run.
Blevins finished with two hits to lead the Bryan bats and Staten recorded 16 strikeouts in the circle for the win.
Bryan will face a familiar foe in the regional finals on Friday in the Lexington Lady Lex (23-3).
This will be the third time in the last four years the teams have met in the regionals with Lexington winning a regional semifinal matchup in 2022 (4-0) and Bryan defeating Lexington 4-1 in the regional finals last season.
WGHS 000 020 0 – 2 3 2
BHS 200 000 1 – 3 5 1
Records: WGHS 13-13, BHS 17-4
WINNING PITCHER: Staten (7 innings, 3 hits, 2 runs, 0 earned, 3 walks, 16 strikeouts)
LOSING PITCHER: Percassi (6 innings, 5 hits, 3 runs, 2 earned, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts)
LEADING HITTERS: (West Geauga) Malone – triple, single, 2 RBIs; (Bryan) Blevins – double, single; Staten – triple, RBI