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ATHENS — With one swing of the bat, Lucy Caplinger became a Logan Elm legend.
Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the seventh inning with two runners on and down to her last strike, the freshman drilled a two-run single straight up the middle to put the Braves (19-8) ahead … for good.
That base knock punched the Braves’ Sweet 16 ticket, earning a 2-1 victory over top-seeded Sheridan — the program’s first district championship since 2014.
“I fouled off a lot of pitches in the previous at-bat, and I think that built up my confidence heading into that final at-bat,” Caplinger said. “I knew I could hit her, and I felt that I deserved to be there in that moment, so I put everything together and found the pitch to hit.”
Sheridan (23-4) got on the board quickly in the first when Hailey Mueller roped an RBI single into the outfield green to put the Generals ahead 1-0.
On the same play, Logan Elm threw a General runner out at home to preserve a run. The Braves didn’t know it at the time, but it was a season-saver.
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
“2-0 is a much different ballgame that early, and what a job by Lucy to get the relay into Lynsay [VanHoose] at short to throw the runner out,” Logan Elm coach Jamey Binkley said. “That was two momentum swings in less than 30 seconds and I know Sheridan was excited to get that first run, but it definitely put a little damper on the excitement getting out of the inning with minimal damage.”
The Braves had little trouble hitting the ball all night, but it was the timely hits that were proving to be a struggle. Between the first and sixth inning, they stranded nine runners on base, including leaving the bases loaded in the second.
“Sheridan is a very good defensive team and Cora Hall is a such a good pitcher, it’s tough to get hits against them because they’re such an experienced team,” Binkley said. “They have a core that’s been there for a while and tasted a lot of success on this level. But we were having a lot of long at-bats, getting a lot of 2-2 and 3-2 situations. We were selective at the pitches we swung at and were making good contact, just not getting the one big hit we needed. But the girls never panicked, they continued to keep swinging away knowing the big one was going to come soon.”
However, they had one final chance in the seventh.
Lynsay VanHoose notched a single and Sadie Binkley walked to put runners on base.
After a sacrifice bunt from Ryleigh Wolfe pushed both runners ahead 60 feet, followed by a strikeout, it all came down to Caplinger. She put on her cape and delivered in the hero role, tallying the biggest hit of the Braves’ season to put them ahead 2-1.
PHOTOS: Images from Logan Elm’s district championship win over Sheridan
Binkley the shut the door in the seventh, retiring the Generals in order.
Ball. Game.
“Ryleigh Wolfe is one of our best hitters, and I know she wanted to swing, but huge credit to her for laying down that bunt,” Jamey Binkley said. “I couldn’t be more proud of this team. The way they stuck together and kept fighting the entire night was incredible to see. We expected to be here having nine starters back from last season and the younger kids have been great all year. This was the most complete game we’ve played and this win means everything to them, to me and the program.”
Sadie Binkley earned the win in the circle, tossing a complete game, allowing just two hits and striking out seven batters. Caplinger finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
Logan Elm advances to a Division II regional semifinal at 2 p.m., Wednesday at Pickerington Central High School. The Braves will face Jonathan Alder, who beat Bloom-Carroll to advance.
“There’s five seniors on this team and we don’t want our last game to happen yet,” Logan Elm’s Tia Fowler said. “We’ve put in a lot of work to get here and there’s been times we’ve been in uncomfortable situations, but that’s also what has gotten us here. We just have to continue giving everything we have on every play and doing everything we can to make plays.”
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