'I am really proud of all the girls': Hillsdale gets huge WCAL win over Norwayne

CRESTON — As the seventh inning rolled through, one thing was clear, both Hillsdale and Norwayne wanted a Wayne County Athletic League win in terms of title ramifications.

There were a couple incredible diving snares from Falcons center fielder Jordyn Fickes, a rocket of a throw from Bobcats left fielder C.J. Moore to gun down a runner at third base. And hits just kept coming from both teams.

Hillsdale got the hits when it mattered most, picking up the 8-5 win to take early control of the WCAL race.

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Entering the final frame, it was a nailbiter at 6-5 with Hillsdale batting in the top of the inning. Host Norwayne (7-1, 5-1) had it's 4-5-6 hitters due up in Riley Gwinn, Anna Metsker and Gabby Workman.

Then there was Fickes, who stepped to the plate after Liliana McCrory drew a five-pitch walk, stole second and advanced to third on Jacey Sermulis groundout to short. It felt like deja vu. It was just Saturday when Fickes stepped to the plate in the bottom of the sixth against Keystone and tied the game with a three-run shot on a high pitch.

Unfortunately for the Bobcats, the freshman star saw another high pitch to her liking as she belted a two-run moon shot over the leftfield wall for two key insurance runs and an 8-5 lead.

"I don't know what's happening, but it's working," said Fickes. "I was just thinking 'base hit' when I came to the plate and also, looking for my pitch, because in my last at bat, I didn't swing at my pitch. It happened to be the first one I saw."

As for seeing it sail over the wall?

"I was really happy and excited," she said.

Her pitcher and teammate, Kennedy Fickes couldn't have been happier.

"That really helped us get some insurance runs for that last inning," she said. "It really calmed down me as a pitcher. It was a great hit."

Kennedy Fickes went out in the bottom half of that frame and closed the deal 1-2-3, with two of her three strikeouts on the day. When her third baseman Laci Huber fired across for the game's final out to get Workman, it capped Kennedy's second straight key win in as many starts as she finished by scattering eight hits.

"I just had to keep attacking, throw like I know I can throw and trust my defense," said Kennedy. "It was just trusting my pitches more; my defense made some great plays and had my back. I know that I can always count on them."

In the end, they both drew the praise of their coach.

"Kennedy is just a very mature person as it is, let alone on the field," said Falcons skipper Hannah Moore. "She is very levelheaded no matter what the situation is and that really showed tonight in her pitching and that helped her.

She pushed through some tough situations, and I am really proud of her."

As for Jordyn, her freshman centerfielder:

"She just gives it her all at the plate, defense, whatever the case, maybe," said Moore. "She is someone that loves the game, is constantly giving us her best and that always shows."

Jordyn was joined by Willow Funk with two hits apiece as Funk delivered a two-run single in the third to break a 3-3 tie.

"We have amazing senior leaders that really show us what it's like, help us and make it easier," said Jordyn. "Like for me, I know that if I don't get it done, that Mollie (Goon) has my back and will get it done."

Her coach agreed.

"That's a major team win tonight, from one to 14," added Moore. "It was just a huge team win, we executed what we were supposed to, did our best and I am really proud of all the girls tonight."

The Bobcats were led Abby Workman with three hits (two doubles), while Metsker and Moore both finished with two hits apiece.

"It was we expected, we knew that we were going to come in and hit the ball," said Norwayne coach Bree Gill. "Their center fielder (Jordyn Fickes) made some tremendous plays out there and there is nothing we can do about that, hats off to her. We had opportunities, we just didn't punch through. It's how it goes sometimes."

Workman, a sophomore, allowed nine hits in the circle, and struck out seven in going the distance.

"Abby is very hard on herself," said Gill. "She is young, has done a great job battling through everything and just kept coming back from tough situations. She has done really well, and I am happy with her efforts."

As for what the Bobcats have to do to even the score on Wednesday when they make the trip to Jeromesville.

"We hit the ball well tonight, our defense made some plays, but we just didn't make plays that we have to make to beat good teams like Hillsdale," said Gill. " MaKenna (Heyden) did a great job in centerfield, we missed some plays in the field that we have to have, we missed some spots pitching, but that stuff happens. We will learn from it."

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Softball: Hillsdale gets huge WCAL win over Norwayne