Wyoma hits its way to a District 16 Little League title

MARBLEHEAD – With a 10-4 victory over Marblehead on Tuesday at Marblehead Veterans Middle School, the Wyoma team won the District 16 Little League All-Star softball tournament.
The Wyoma squad will move on to sectionals next week.
?I?m extremely proud (of this team),” said Wyoma coach Chad Wilkins. “You never think you?re going to get this far. You hope, but you don?t think it. They worked very hard day in and day out. They didn?t want a day off, and hard work paid off.”
Wyoma put three quick runs on the board in the top of the first. Abby Fila walked, Katherine Clancy singled and McKenzie Shea tripled to clear the bases. Shea ran right through third base and scored on an error to give Wyoma a 3-0 lead.
Marblehead got one back in the bottom of the frame. Emma Ferrante walked, stole second and scored on Olivia Cleary?s fielder?s choice.
But Marblehead couldn?t contain Wyoma?s bats. After scoring 14 runs on Monday night, Wyoma kept the offensive attack going, plating two in the second, two in the fourth, one in the fifth and two in the sixth. Amanda Wilkins had two RBIs at the top of the lineup, Fila scored twice and drove in one, Clancy scored twice and drove home two with a double, and Julia Nicalow had a RBI fielder?s choice. Sophia Lebert scored three times and had three hits.
?I think the nerves settled down,” said Wilkins. “They were nervous the first few games, and rightfully so, and they started to get comfortable and confident and that?s where the bats clicked.”
Marblehead chipped away in the third, as Ferrante drove in two runs with a single. Marblehead scored one more run in the sixth, but the rally didn?t last long enough to make up the deficit.
?We had a couple big hits and we had a couple of at-bats where we hit the ball but they made the big plays to get out of the inning,” Marblehead coach Adam Sogoloff said. “Tough loss, but that?s a good team. And we told the girls, ?Listen, now you know what you need to do.? You can?t make mistakes and you have to make the big plays, like (Wyoma) did tonight. We made some really nice plays tonight, but they still put up a 10-spot against us. A couple of untimely errors really hurt us. We respect (Wyoma) so much. They?re so well-disciplined and well-coached. The girls love their softball and it shows. They?ll do well in the sectionals.”
Fila allowed just five hits on the mound for Wyoma.
?(Fila) pitched every inning of every game,” said Wilkins. “I don?t think she had more than two walks in any game. She?s been outstanding, and even her bat came alive in the last few games, and she really did it for us.”
For Marblehead, Maeve Sogoloff allowed 10 hits and just one walk, fanning three. Abby Kalinowski had an RBI single in the sixth, and Sogoloff reached twice on a single and walk.
?We didn?t know what to expect because we have such a young team,” Sogoloff said. “They hadn?t played in this kind of atmosphere, and I think they got overwhelmed by all the people and what was at stake. And we had to play a perfect game. But that was a great run. I?m very proud of them. They played awesome, and I think it was a really good learning experience.”
Katie Morrison may be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @KatieMo61.