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John Marshall Rallies by Brooke in W.Va. Class AAA Region One, Section One Softball Action

Seven-run outburst in 6th keys Monarchs

Photo by Kyle Lutz John Mashall’s Anna Blake takes a hack during the first inning of a W.Va. Class AAA Region One, Section One contest against Brooke at the J.B. Chambers I-470 Complex. The Monarchs rallied for a 7-3 victory.

WHEELING — Things were looking bleak for John Marshall late Wednesday afternoon.

The Monarchs found themselves trailing Brooke by a 3-0 count entering the home half of the sixth inning. Meanwhile, Bruins ace hurler Rachel Kazmirski was in control, yielding two hits to that point.

The game took a quick and dramatic turn the John Marshall way thanks to a seven-run outburst in the sixth, propelling the Monarchs to a 7-3 Class AAA Region One, Section One win at the I-470 J.B. Chambers Complex.

Coach Ed West’s victorious charges will face Wheeling Park at 5 p.m. today at the same venue in another sectional affair.

“I don’t want to say I expected it (the seven-run rally), but I wasn’t surprised,” West said. “I know we can hit the ball. The bats finally came alive in the sixth inning.

“I give our kids credit. They never quit. It is a real nice win against a good team and an outstanding pitcher.”

The win was the 17th against 12 losses for John Marshall. Brooke fell to 16-10. The Bruins will face the loser of the John Marshall-Wheeling Park game in an elimination contest Friday.

Three walks and five hits fueled the Monarchs uprising.

Dori Kins plated the initial JM run via a single before Abby Blake coaxed a bases-loaded walk to make it a 3-2 Brooke lead. Junior first baseman Mack Hall delivered the big blow, doubling off the left-field fence, plating a pair of teammates to give the Monarchs a 4-3 advantage.

After a wild pitch yielded another run, Kiley Ward executed a perfect bunt, bringing home the sixth run. Kam Skrzyneki capped the frame with an RBI single.

Brooke was its own worst enemy, stranding 13 bases runners.

“We didn’t take advantage of our opportunities. We had plenty of chances,” Brooke coach Jim DiCarlo said. “We just couldn’t get that key hit. When we hit the ball hard at times it was right at them.

“I didn’t think we played a bad game. We just had one bad inning. Give John Marshall credit. They made a nice comeback.”

JM sophomore Tessa Wise did yeoman’s work in gaining a win. She relieved starter Sophia Adkins in the second inning, trailing, 1-0. Wise was solid the balance of the night, fanning three while walking four. She displayed a great ability to work herself out of trouble.

“Tessa did a real nice job. She came in a jam and worked out of it,” West said. “I am real pleased with this win. It wasn’t looking good heading into the sixth.

“Now we have Wheeling Park again. They beat us twice by one run each time. Hopefully, (Wednesday) will be a spark for us.”

Kazmirski went the route for the Bruins, who fell to Steubenville on Monday in the OVAC 5A championship game. She fanned six and walked six.

Brooke did not have an RBI hit. Two runs come home on bases-loaded walks and the third on a bases-full hit-by-pitch.

The Bruins finished with five hits. Leadoff hitter Megan Cross had two singles and reached base all five times, including two walks and a fielder’s choice.

JM rapped seven hits on the day, five coming in the fateful sixth inning. Ward was the lone Monarch with two hits. Anna Blake, like Hall, cracked a double for the winners.

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