Brock Netter, Editor
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
CIRCLEVILLE — If Circleville suddenly goes on a hot streak as the season comes to a close, Friday was the beginning of the Tigers’ turnaround.
Circleville ran into a massive problem in the seventh inning, letting a three-run lead slip through the cracks and finding itself trailing by a run going into its final at-bat.
However, instead of packing it in for the night, the Tigers held their ground and fought back.
That’s when Kayla Fleck and Makaylee Holbrook put on their superhero capes, notching back-to-back RBI singles to send the Tigers (6-11, 4-5 MSL) home with a 6-5 walk-off, upset win over Logan Elm.
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
“We came together as a team, and we’ve been playing more together in these last three or four games, which has been a huge part of everything ,” Holbrook said. “Having this type of confidence, especially after a huge win like this is key, and it definitely feels amazing to get a win against our county rivals.”
Holbrook ripped the walk-off hit, but getting to that moment was not possible without Fleck’s prior at-bat — alongside her performance in the circle.
For nearly six innings, the Braves (13-3, 6-2 MSL) had no answer for Fleck. She only ran into trouble twice with runners on base, but escaped unscathed on both occasions while the Tigers took control.
She earned the win, tossing seven complete innings, surrendering one earned run on eight hits, and striking out five batters.
“It definitely feels great. We’ve been struggling lately, putting complete games together. But it all came together tonight,” Fleck said. “We believed and never stopped fighting. I love my teammates, I know they have my back anytime we’re in the field and it makes the game easier.”
After two scoreless innings, Circleville managed to get on the scoreboard first. With the bases loaded and no outs, Kaylee West roped a blooper into shallow center field for an RBI single. Taylor Cowdery followed with a sacrifice fly to put the Tigers ahead 2-0.
Two innings later, they were back at it.
After Audrey Cowdery doubled to lead off the inning, she scored on a Logan Elm fielding error. Taylor Cowdery then stepped up and launched an RBI double into center field, extending the lead to 4-0.
Logan Elm managed to answer in the top of the sixth when Kimmy Petty notched a sacrifice fly, cutting the lead to 4-1.
That small glimmer of hope was exactly what the Braves needed, and with one final chance in the top of the seventh, they took full advantage of an opportunity given.
LE quickly loaded the bases and scored off a Circleville fielding error to cut the deficit to 4-2. That set the stage for Megan Armold to deliver the biggest hit of the night at the moment — a bases-clearing double to put the Braves ahead 5-4.
“Our coaches kept telling us not to quit because there’s still a lot of game left,” Fleck said. “But it’s also on us as players to keep each other up and excited. We’ve had games this year that we’ve lost in the seventh inning, but we were determined to not let that happen this time.”
Now the pressure was on Circleville. But there was no panic.
Following a one-out single from Jenna Boring, Fleck stepped up and ripped a game-tying RBI triple into center field, making it 5-5.
“In that moment heading to the plate, I was just thinking that I owe my defense one because they had my back all game long,” Fleck said. “I told myself that I was going to see the ball and hit it. Luckily, it happened and it was such a great feeling.”
All that was left to do was score the winning run. Fleck needed to cross the dish and Holbrook delivered the goods.
With a full count, she took the offering and sent the Tigers home winners with a walk-off single for their third straight victory.
“I knew I had two strikes on me, so I knew that I had to get the ball in play and down somewhere,” Holbrook said. “Kayla was on third and I couldn’t just leave her standed there. I kept telling myself that I had it and I felt confident the entire at-bat.”
Fleck, in addition to her outing in the circle, finished 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI. West and Taylor Cowdery each went 1-for-3 with two RBIs while Holbrook had a hit and an RBI.
For Logan Elm, Arnold was 1-for-3 with a double and three RBIs, and Adkins was 1-for-4 with an RBI.
Circleville returns to action on Monday at Hamilton Township for MSL action while Logan Elm hosts Amanda-Clearcreek that same evening.
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