Trojanettes stunned by Stanton in regionals

SIDNEY —The Essex Trojanettes were denied a third straight regional semifinal trip when they lost 14-13 to Stanton in the 1A quarterfinals last Wednesday at Sidney High School.

Both teams stayed close throughout the game. Essex took a 2-1 lead after one inning and continued to lead 4-3 after three innings.

Stanton scored five runs in the top of the fourth to take an 8-4 lead. However, the Trojanettes responded with six in the bottom half of the inning to make it 10-8.

The Viqueens tied the game with two runs in the fifth inning and followed up in the top half of the sixth with two more to make it 12-10.

Essex responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning to enter the final inning with a 13-12 lead.

Stanton tied it up once more and took the lead during the seventh inning.

The Viqueens held on long enough to hold Essex scoreless and knock off the Trojanettes.

Essex had three players with three hit games, including senior outfielder Kym Graham, who finished her final game as a Trojanette by going 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored.

Ausha Gay also scored two runs as the junior third baseman went 3-for-4 with an RBI.

Lead-off hitter Daiton Martin had three stolen bases as she went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and one RBI.

Jescenia Mosley scored two runs and knocked in two more as she went 2-for-4 with a double.

In addition to being the final game for Graham, it was also the last for seniors Amber Ohnmacht and Sara Skalberg. Ohnmacht scored a run, as did Skalberg.

Essex vs. East Mills

The Trojanettes found themselves in a similar position during the first round last Monday at Sidney.

They rallied back from a 12-run deficit to defeat East Mills 15-14.

Mosley had the late-game heroics as the outfielder scored the walk-off run in the seventh inning thanks to a triple and an error. Mosley was 1-for-4 in the game with three runs and a walk.

“Just getting a hit like that to save the game, it’s amazing,” Mosley said.

The comeback was also amazing as the Trojanettes were down to their final outs in the fourth inning when East Mills scored seven runs to take a 14-2 lead.

East Mills looked to pull off what might have been one of the biggest upsets in the regional softball tournament. They needed to get the final three outs in the fourth inning.

They got the outs, but not before Essex scored a run to keep the game alive for at least one more inning. East Mills’ lead was 14-3 through four innings.

“We really had to pull ourselves together. We were a wreck,” Mosley said. “We just got back into the game.”

Things got tough for starting pitcher Kassidy Croghan as she walked lead-off batter Sara Skalberg. Jescenia Mosley got on base and soon the Trojanettes scored a run, thanks to an RBI groundout by Amber Ohnmacht that scored Skalberg.

Devan Gray knocked in another run on a RBI hit and the lead was down to 14-5. Croghan continued to struggle in the circle, loading the bases as Gray eventually scored on a passed ball.

The Wolverines made the switch, putting in Zena Courtier to pitch to Essex left-handed hitter Bethany Johnson.

The plan backfired as Johnson hit one into the outfield for a double, scoring three runs and cutting the lead to 14-9. Johnson was 2-for-3 with four RBIs.

Essex relief pitcher Amber Ohnmacht had settled in by that point as she and the Trojanettes defense kept East Mills in check.

The nightmare continued for the Wolverines in the bottom of the sixth inning. After loading the bases with one out, Essex shortstop Daiton Martin knocked in Mosley on a sacrifice fly.

“The key was  to just not give up,” Mosley said. “We’re a team and we can win this.”

Essex outfielder Kym Graham, as well as Johnson followed up with back-to-back RBI singles, to get the lead down to 14-12.

East Mills put Croghan back in to pitch, hoping to preserve what was left of their lead.

Graham got the lead down to one, thanks to an error on a grounder by Ausha Gay. Johnson tied the game 14-14 when she scored on a passed ball.

Graham led the way by going 2-for-3 with three runs scored. 

Devan Gray was also 2-for-3 with a double and three runs scored.

Essex finishes the season with a 15-8 record. They also close out the season as the reigning Corner Conference champions.