A packed house at Defiance High School got a thrilling treat on Wednesday night as PCL Champion Continental and PCL runner up Miller City tangled in a 10 inning pitchers duel with the Pirates taking the DVII District Semifinal. From the start it looked like it was going to be a pitchers battle as both teams opened up the game with a pair of strikeouts. In the bottom of the first the Pirates got on base first when PCL Player of the Year Pirate Gracie Homier earned a walk. No damage was done from that walk. In the second both teams had a walk and a stolen base with the Pirates Kimberly Grant getting on base. Again both pitchers ended the threat with a pair of strikeouts. Both teams got their first hit in the third inning with Ryley Winkle hitting a single for the Pirates. But neither batter got past first. The top of the fifth had the Wildcats hit one down the left field line for a double, the only extra base hit of the game. Gracie Homier struck out the final batter to end the Wildcat rally. In the bottom of the fifth the Pirates Becca Sullivan picked up a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch with one out but the Wildcats got two quick outs to end that inning. The sixth inning had the Wildcats getting a 2 out single and hit the ball hard to third baseman Mallorie Barnhart who knocked it down and threw out the runner at first. The Pirates got a pair of hits in their half of the fifth as Ava Homier and Kenzie Searfoss both singled but the rally was stopped when Kimberly Grant hit a fly to center. The seventh had the Wildcats hit a single and steal a pair of bases to put a runner on third for the first time in the game. Pirate pitcher Homier finished the inning by getting a pair of strikeouts. The Pirates got a runner to second in their half of the seventh with Becca Sullivan hitting a single and moving up on a pitch but a pair of Pirate flyouts left it 0-all after regulation. Both teams got a single in the eighth with Gracie Homier for the Pirates but neither runner advanced past first. A quiet ninth led into an action packed 10th inning. The Wildcats got a 2 out single and a stolen base but Gracie picked up her 15th strikeout to end the Rally. The Pirates lead off batter Leah Sullivan hit a single and moved to second on a wild pitch. #9 batter Winkle grounded to second for an out but Leah was able to advance to third. Maeci Dockery hit a fly to left field which was caught but Leah was able to tag up and beat the throw for the walk off win. A great clean game by both teams, no errors and a lot of great defensive plays.
Leah Searfoss scored the only run of the game after she hit a single in the 10th. Macie Dockery hit the game winning sacrifice fly in the 10th. Gracie Homier and Becca Sullivan both hit a single and earned a walk. Ryley Winkle, Ava Homier, and Kenzie Searfoss all hit a single. Kimberly Grant walked and stole a base. The Pirates outhit the Wildcats 7-6.
Gracie Homier pitched the complete game win for the Pirates going 10 shutout innings, giving up 6 hits, 15 strikeouts, and 1 walk. Both teams played errorless ball.
Continental improves to 17-4 and will travel to Kenton on Saturday for the OHSAA DVII District Finals against Hardin Northern. Hardin Northern advanced to the District Final with a 8-4 win over Upper Scioto Valley. Winner of the District Finals move onto the Southwest Regional at Wapakoneta on Wednesday. Miller City falls to 12-10.
–Mike Jones, Sportswriter
