PHOTO BY PAULA MULLER
Wyoma pitcher Lily Newhall earned the win after tossing a complete game against Marblehead on Friday.
By MIKE ALONGI
LYNN — Despite giving up three runs in the top of the first inning, the Wyoma Little League softball team battled back to beat Marblehead, 13-9, in the winner’s bracket of the District 16 softball tournament at Lynn Woods Field on Friday.
“Determination is what these girls had all along,” said Wyoma coach Jay Newhall. “That’s what kept us in the game. We almost lost a couple players who were getting nervous, but those players ended up making huge plays in the game.
“They just have the drive to keep going,” he said.
Andrea Brazell led the way for Wyoma, going 3-for-4 with four RBI. Sophia LeBert was right behind, going 2-for-3 with three RBI. Riley Mannion (2-for-4), Sailor Brinkler (0-for-3) and Lily Newhall (0-for-2) each notched one RBI.
Newhall also got the win, pitching all six innings.
“She came out a little soft and gave up those runs early, but then she bore down,” said Newhall. “She got the job done and she threw the ball well.”
For Marblehead, Cannan Whittier (0-for-3) and Lauren Podgur (2-for-2) each had two RBI, while Jolie Quintana (1-for-4) had one.
Marblehead came out hot in the top of the first. After scoring two runs on an error and a passed ball, Whittier knocked in a run on a groundout to make it 3-0 before Wyoma even got a chance to hit.
But Wyoma was ready when it got that chance. Amanda Tobin led off with a single and stole second base. Then Brazell stepped in and knocked an RBI single to put Wyoma on the board. Wyoma then got runners on second and third with no outs for Mannion. And although she struck out, the ball got away from the catcher and a run scored.
Next up was Brinkler, who grounded out to the pitcher to bring in another run. Newhall was up next and she did the same thing, giving Wyoma a 4-3 lead after the first inning.
“When you give up three runs in the top of the first and then come right back and score four of your own, that’s the determination I was talking about,” said Newhall.
Marblehead didn’t give in easily, tying the game back up in the top of the second thanks to another passed ball.
But Wyoma took the lead for good in the bottom of the second. After a throwing error led to the run that broke the tie, LeBert smashed a two-run double to left-centerfield. After an RBI single from Mannion, Wyoma held an 8-4 lead.
Marblehead got one run back in the top of the third on a sacrifice bunt by Whittier, but Wyoma responded right back with a two-run double by Brazell in the bottom of the third to make it 10-5.
The score remained that way until the top of the fifth, when Marblehead put three runs on the board thanks in part to a two-run single by Podgur. The score was 10-8 at that point, and that was as close as Marblehead was able to get.
Wyoma grabbed insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth on RBI singles from Brazell and LeBert. After another run came in on a throwing error, the score was 13-8.
Quintana tried to keep Marblehead in it by smacking an RBI single in the top of the sixth, but Newhall was able to shut the door and seal the win for Wyoma.
With the win, Wyoma earned a few days off to await its opponent. Marblehead will fall down to the loser’s bracket to face Saugus.
