HOLMES TOWNSHIP — Wynford coach Chelsea Rice made one thing perfectly clear. When her team needed a play, it went to junior Rylee Robinson.

“Rylee is my starting pitcher, my ace in the hole,” Rice said. “But the mentality is there; she’s a leader. It’s not just winning every game that’s important to her, it is, but she’s a leader to the team. We have no seniors, but she has stepped up. She can lead and she can get things going. They’ll follow suit.”

Robinson not only tossed a complete-game five-hitter but came to the plate in the bottom of the seventh in a 2-2 game with Buckeye Central.

With Lily Laipply, who reached on a BC error, standing on second and one out, Robinson rifled a double to right-center, scoring Laipply and giving the Lady Royals a 3-2 win in a big early season Northern 10 Athletic Conference game.

With the win, Wynford remained in a tie for first in the conference, improving to 5-1 overall, 3-0 in the conference. The loss was the first of the season for the Buckettes, who dropped to 3-1 overall, 2-1 in the conference.

Robinson said that the win was definitely important for her team.

“It’s pretty exciting,” Robinson said. “We always go for Buckeye pretty hard, but it was a team effort.”

Robinson, and Buckeye Central starter Grace Collene, had to battle not only the cold, but the rain late in the game. But both starters pitched very well. Collene also went the distance, scattering just four hits.

“We’ve been playing like this for the past two years, travel ball, so I’m kinda used to this weather,” Robinson said. “You just have to adjust.”

Rice said that Wynford and Buckeye Central are battling not only each other, but a chance to move into the top of the N10 standings.

“I think (BC coach) Todd (Messmer) has the same mentality that I do,” Rice said. “The N10 needs to realize we’re bringing back what maybe hasn’t been there for the last couple of years. Wynford hasn’t been to the top; Buckeye Central hasn’t been to the top.

“Honestly, I’m a little tired of hearing about Mohawk and Upper. I’m sure Todd is, too,” Rice added. “We’re competitive and I’m sure that’s all the girls have. We’ll make mistakes, I understand that. It’s the next play that matters. The girls really want to be at the top, whether that’s number one or number two, whatever that is. We’re shaking it up this year. You’re going to see that we’re going to compete in the N10.”

Messmer also said that in games in cold weather, one or two plays can make the difference.

“(The players) learned that any team, at any time, can be beaten,” Messmer said. “In cold weather like this, and in the rain, an error or something will beat you. You need to stay focused and return to the practice field and get better.”

The two teams scored the majority of their runs in the first inning.

Buckeye Central broke through in the top of the first against Robinson, as A.J. Jury walked and moved to second before scoring on Phoebe Rafferty’s double to right center. BC held a 1-0 lead.

Wynford came right back in the bottom of the frame off Collene.

Robinson doubled to left center and scored on Kate McGuire’s double to center, tying the game at 1-1. Robinson scored on a wild pitch and the Lady Royals held a 2-1 lead after one inning.

Collene, however, was brilliant the rest of the way. She allowed just two hits over the final six innings. She finished with nine strikeouts and three walks.

Buckeye tied the game in the top of the fourth. Collene opened with a triple to right center and scored on a Rafferty ground out.

After four, the game was tied at 2-2.

Robinson was also outstanding, striking out 10 and walking two.

Messmer felt that his team played well, despite the terrible weather.

“I’m happy with the way we played,” Messmer said. “With the way the weather was, and the cold, just a ball here or a ball there is the difference in the game.”

Box score

Buckeye Central      100 100 0       2       5       2

Wynford                    200 000 1       3       4       3

WP: Rylee Robinson (10 SO, 2 W)

LP: Grace Collene (9 SO, 4 W)

HR: None.

Triples: (W) Rylee Robinson; (BC) Grace Collene.

Doubles: (W) Rylee Robinson, Kate McGuire.

Multiple hits: (W) Rylee Robinson; (BC) Phoebe Rafferty.

Records: Buckeye Central 3-1, 2-1 N10; Wynford 5-1, 3-0 N10.

Next: Buckeye Central at Lucas, Thursday; Seneca East at Wynford, Friday.