BEATING THE THROW … Makinzy King slides safely for one of her two runs scored in North Central’s 16-4 win over Stryker in the Division IV sectional semifinals. (PHOTO BY RICH HARDING, STAFF)
By: Nate Calvin
PIONEER-The No. 12 seed Stryker Panthers enjoyed an early 1-0 advantage before No. 5 North Central responded with 16 unanswered runs to take control in a 16-4 win over the Panthers in the Division IV sectional semifinals.
Stryker got the game’s first run when Sage Woolace started the game with a walk and after stealing second and third base, she would score on an Emma Fulk groundout for an early 1-0 Stryker lead.
North Central quickly bounced back in the bottom of the frame by getting a single and two walks to load the bases with no outs.
After Stryker was able to record two outs, Emma Fidler broke through with a line drive double to center to give North Central a 2-1 lead.
Isabelle Burnett followed Fidler with a two-run single to center and she would come around to score on a single by Kailysa Hickman to make it a 5-1 game.
The Eagles would get one more run in the inning as they sent 11 batters to the plate to take a 6-1 lead.
A single by Makinzy King started the second inning for the Eagles followed by doubles from Kendee Hollstein and Makayla Myers as the lead grew to 7-1.
Fidler would get her third RBI of the night on a groundout after the Myers double to make it 8-1 North Central.
North Central added four more runs in the third inning aided by a couple Stryker errors combined with a Myers inside the park two-run homer to grab a commanding 12-1 advantage.
The fourth inning saw North Central tack on four more runs as Macie Gendron drew a bases loaded walk, Kendall Sutton had an RBI single, and King reached on an error that allowed two more runs for the Eagles.
Stryker (5-8) was able to score three times in the seventh to close the final margin thanks to a two-run homer from Woolace and an RBI single by Caitlyn Lyons.
Myers and Burnett each were 3-3 for the Eagles as Myers joined Fidler with three RBIs while Burnett drove in two runs.
The Eagles (9-12) now face Hicksville or Continental in the sectional finals on Thursday night.
SCORE BY INNINGS R H E
Stryker 100 03x x 4 2 4
NC 624 4x x x 16 16 2
Nate can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com