WINDBER — Senior Emma Kelly delivered four RBIs, lifting second-seeded Windber past third-seeded Chestnut Ridge 10-5 in come-from-behind fashion in a District 5 Class 2A softball semifinal, Thursday, May 21, at the Windber Sports Complex.
“Last year, we were in the same position against Chestnut Ridge in the semifinals and we lost against them,” said Kelly. “This feels really good to come back and beat them this year. I am really excited for the championship game. I can see us powering through.”
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The Ramblers (14-6) trailed 3-0 before they even came to bat in the first. Emma Callihan delivered an RBI single off Windber starter Rylee Baer. A wild pitch and an error allowed two more runs to score.
Windber finally broke through in the bottom of the fourth. Baer singled, Kaylie Gaye walked and Addie Slatcoff singled to load the bases. Addy Hamilton grounded into a fielder’s choice on a 10-pitch at-bat to plate a run. Kelly followed with an RBI single, scoring Gaye. Slatcoff also came home on the play after a throwing error by the centerfielder to tie the game.
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The Ramblers sent 10 girls to the plate and took the lead for good against Lions relief pitcher Bella Datillo. Nici Costlow hit a leadoff single and Baer followed with a deep drive to left that landed at the base of the fence, chasing home Costlow. Gaye, Slatcoff and Hamilton each drew a walk, which led to another run. Kelly came up clutch with a 2-run single the trickled between first and second.
Windber led 8-3 after five.
The Ramblers added some insurance in the seventh. Gaye and Slatcoff each singled. Hamilton dropped a perfect bunt down the third base line which she beat out for a single. The heady Gaye never stopped running on the play and scored. Kelly produced her fourth RBI of the game with a single.
Chestnut Ridge (10-11) tallied a pair of runs in the seventh, but it was not enough as the Lions upset bid fell short.
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Baer allowed seven hits and struck out eight.
“These girls are hungry,” Windber coach Ron Walker said. “We’ve been in this situation many times and walk away with a loss. They were hungry. They were fired up. We had two of the best days of practice since I’ve been doing this. I knew they’d come out and play and have a good game like they did today, and they deserve everything because they put a lot of hard work into this.”
Windber meets either top-seeded Everett or fourth-seeded Tussey Mountain in the championship game, Wednesday, May 27.
The Ramblers fell 4-2 to the Warriors and 6-5 to the Titans in the regular season.
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Adam Ripple is the Daily American sports editor. He can be reached at 814-444-5926. Follow him on X @ARipple_DAsport. Follow Daily American Sports on Facebook and @dailyamericanmedia on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Late offense leads Windber past Chestnut Ridge in D5-2A softball semis
