SHELBY (Crawford County Now)— Wynford’s Erin Wolfe has taken her role change to heart.
The junior designated hitter crushed a grand slam home run to ignite an 8-run third inning as the Lady Royals cruised to a five-inning, 13-2 Division VI district semifinal here Tuesday evening.
“It was my first home run, so it was really great with the bases loaded. I was just looking for a run to get in, and it was more than I expected,” Wolfe said.
Facing a 3-2 count Wolfe put the ball off the top of the centerfield fence to blow open a close game.
“It was good for our team, especially with Margaretta coming up. It was right down the middle, so I just swung and hoped for the best.”
Wynford (9-12) moves on to play Margaretta in Clyde on Thursday at 5 p.m. for a district championship.
“They (coaches) told me that when I make an error in the field it gets in my head in the batter’s box. This has helped with my batting. I want to do well because it’s the thing that people are counting on me for.”
Wolfe had a single and a double in the sectional final victory last week. As a team the Lady Royals have pounded out 30 hits in two post-season outings.
She said her team was in a hitting slump during the early part of the season, but everyone has picked it up since then.
“We’ve had a lot of tough teams and now it’s more important than ever. It’s motivation to move on as a team. Last year we got to the regional semifinals, and I think we want to get back there.”
Wynford started off hot, plating 3 runs in the first inning and a pair in the second. Lily Laipply got the first of her three hits, all infield singles. She added 4 stolen bases and scored three times.
Alivia Ritzler singled in a pair of runs and Kate McGuire drove in the third in the first frame. Addison Sebring, Briley Hildreth and Robinson (a double) also drove in runs.
“The bats are alive and they’re not gonna stop,” Wynford head coach Chelsea Rice said.
“I’m ecstatic to be in a district final again. When I came on 3 years ago, sectional back then was close. We had to play Edison (a 16-8 loss) and Rylee was out with her broken collarbone. Now the seniors don’t want to be done and are stepping it up.”
The move of Wolfe to DH has proven beneficial.
“We knew Ellie (Nash) could play third or first. She has a quick glove. Erin needs to focus on either offense or defense, and her bat’s been hot the last 6 games.
“It’s not a punishment. Erin’s living up to it and helping her team out. She’s in a great spot in the lineup and doing everything we ask,” Rice said.
“The grand slam tonight is just the cherry on top.”
South Central (7-15) managed just 5 hits off Rylee Robinson, all of them singles.
“They can hit and we didn’t help our cause defensively,” Lady Trojans head coach Chad Fortune said. “They got those 8 runs in the third and we gave them about 5 of those. Maybe it’s a different game, maybe not. Robinson is really good.”
The Wynford ace struck out 6 and walked a pair and didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning with the game all but decided.
South Central got a pair of runs in the fifth inning.
“We ain’t gonna roll over. It took us a while to get onto her. We just really don’t see anybody like that in the Firelands. She moves the ball really well.”
Rice, who knows her pitcher well, agrees.
“Rylee can move the ball. Even some of the things — like shaking me off— I trust her. If she says she can’t throw a change-up or a rise ball, whatever it is. I trust her to get the strike.”
Playing in the Northern 10 Athletic Conference has prepared Wynford.
“The N10 is the toughest one out there; nothing against any other leagues. It gets us ready. We’ve watched other teams like Margaretta and other schools play,” Rice said.
The Lady Bears beat Lakota 10-0 in the other district semifinal game.
“We’ll come out Thursday and we’ll compete.”
Box score
South Central 000 02X X 2 5 2
Wynford 328 0XX X 13 12 1
WP: Rylee Robinson (6 SO, 2 W)
LP: Viola Culler (0 SO, 2 W)
HR: (W) Erin Wolfe.
Triples: None.
Doubles: (W) Rylee Robinson, Erin Wolfe, Kate McGuire.
Multiple hits: (W) Lily Laipply 3, Briley Hildreth, Erin Wolfe.
Records: South Central 7-15; Wynford 9-12.
Next: New London at South Central, Wednesday; Wynford vs. Margaretta, Division VI district final at Clyde, Thursday.