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AKRON — Adversity is nothing new for Logan Elm. But Bryan handed the resilient Braves a back-breaker on Friday.
With the score tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the sixth, the Golden Bears laid down three straight bunts to score the game-winning run, knocking off Logan Elm by a 2-1 tally in a Division II state semifinal at Akron’s Firestone Stadium.
Through four complete innings, Logan Elm’s Sadie Binkley and Bryan’s Thea Staten were both masterful in the circle.
Staten got the Braves to go down in order on three separate occasions, while Binkley worked out of jams and even pitched a five-pitch inning in the third.
However, in the bottom half of the fifth, Bryan saw its chance and took advantage of the opportunity.
Following a two-out walk, Ella Voigt stepped up for the Golden Bears and ripped an RBI triple into right-center field to put them ahead 1-0.
Although it was a breakthrough moment, it didn’t rattle the Braves. If anything, it appeared to put a little pressure on the Golden Bears.
In the top of the sixth, Bryan made back-to-back throwing errors, putting runners on first and second, which shifted momentum.
Following a sacrifice bunt from Ryleigh Wolfe to move each runner, LE decided to roll the dice one more time when Jacie Clifton laid down another bunt, scoring Lynsay Vanhoose from third base and tying the game at 1-1.
But the Golden Bears decided to counter with small ball of their own in the bottom half.
After a leadoff walk and a pair of bunt singles to load the bases, Tabithah Taylor laid down an RBI bunt single to put the Golden Bears back ahead, 2-1 .
The Braves had one final chance to tie or take a lead in the seventh. But a 1-2-3 closed the book on a historic season.
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