GALION — Mohawk started off slowly, spotting Monroeville a 2-0 first inning lead Tuesday afternoon.
But not to worry. Business picked up from that point for the top seed.
The Lady Warriors stormed back, scored a dozen straight runs and posted a 12-2, five-inning win in the Division IV district semifinal game at Heise Park.
“Tori (Phillips) had a couple bobbles there in the first inning at short. They loaded the bases. But again, Bailey (Sheets) was able to work through some of that and we got out of the inning,” Mohawk coach Mindy Walton said.
Sheets pitched a solid game recording five strikeouts and issuing one walk.
Mohawk (19-4) plays Thursday at 5 p.m. against Plymouth, who defeated South Central, 10-1, in the second game. It will be a rematch of last season’s district final which the Lady Warriors won 4-2.
The Lady Eagles’ season ends at 21-6.
“We came back … bam, bam, bam, one, two, three. I was just super proud of the composure they showed that inning. We were really disciplined at the plate tonight, which is exactly what we needed to see at this point in tournaments,” Walton said.
“I can’t say enough about how disciplined they were. They went through three different pitchers and every time it was the same thing all the way through our lineup.”
Monroeville junior Camryn Hurst started and lasted two and one-third innings before being relieved by freshman Veanna Helmstetter. Hurst yielded seven hits, struck out four and walked two.
Mohawk scored four runs in the second inning as a result of five base hits, sending nine batters to the plate.
Brooklen Helton walked and Aley Schock started things off with a single off the third baseman’s glove. That was followed by a beautifully executed bunt by Josie Granata that scored both runs and began the Lady Warriors onslaught.
Hits by Lauren Moyer, Phillips, and Sheets made it a 4-2 game after two innings. The Lady Warriors added two more in the third courtesy of a double by A.J. Chevalier and Schock single.
Kendal Bailey added a single for Mohawk, which had 13 hits.
Coach Abe Helmstetter said his club had a rash of mistakes resulting in five errors.
“It felt like errors and mental mistakes hurt. I’ve been doing this a long time. You do your best to try to have them prepared … and you can second-guess this or that or whatever.”
“Credit to Mohawk. They made the plays they needed to and that’s something we didn’t. They got the timely hits that we didn’t,” Helmstetter said.
He referred to the first inning as an example.
“We had the bases loaded (with one out). Man, one more hit would have put a little more pressure on. So, props to them. They played.”
Facing Sheets is a tall order for most teams, including the Lady Eagles.
“She’s a great pitcher. She spun the ball well, kept us off balance. At times we had trouble barreling it up. At other times we were able to get that hit. They were the better team today.”
Mohawk entered the bottom of the fifth leading 6-2, but again batted around.
A walk, single by Schock, a triple to centerfield by Granata and one-baggers by Bailey and Phillips blew the game open with six runs. A passed ball allowed the deciding run to score for Mohawk.
“To be honest, we’ve struggled with that (hitting), on again, off again. We hopefully can keep that momentum going forward,” Walton said.
The bottom of the lineup again propelled Mohawk.
“They kind of started it off for us and it kind of took off after that. The middle to the bottom of the lineup picked us up when we needed it and got some critical hits from some of those girls.”
Getting out of the first inning jam with just a two-run deficit was important.
“That’s huge. That’s the work that Bailey does. Hat’s off to her. She works her butt off out there and just gets stronger as the game goes on,” Walton said.
“She was struggling a little bit in the first inning just hitting spots and working to find the umpire’s strike zone. Mentally, she just keeps her composure and keeps working.”
Walton said her team has improved this season.
“Huge progress. We have got multiple people in different positions this year. Coming into tonight I didn’t know if we were going to have our same infield because we had a girl who was sick.
“We’ve just made huge gains from the middle of the season. They’ve improved so much and a lot of that has to do with our senior leaders who have taken them under their wing and showing them the ropes and keeping them going.”
Box score
Monroeville 200 00X X 2 6 5
Mohawk 042 06X X 12 13 3
WP: Bailey Sheets (5 SO, 1 W)
LP: Camryn Hurst (4 SO, 2 W)
HR: None.
Triples: (M) Josie Granata.
Doubles: (M) A.J. Chevalier.
Multiple hits: (M) Lauren Moyer, Bailey Sheets, Tori Phillips, Kendal Bailey.
Records: Monroeville 21-6; Mohawk 19-4.
Next: Monroeville season over; Mohawk vs. Plymouth at Division IV district final at Galion, 5 p.m.