High school softball: Emily Gerber has memorable game as Wadsworth beats Nordonia

WADSWORTH — Emily Gerber's Wadsworth softball teammates got the ball from her final home at-bat Wednesday night, but she probably won't need it to remember the moment for a long time. With the game tied in the sixth inning, Gerber blasted her second home run of the season over the left-field fence that also scored Farrah Gant (single, 2 runs), leading the Grizzlies to a 9-8 Suburban League National Conference victory over Nordonia. "It was such a big moment," said Gerber, who finished 3-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs. "I was so excited, because I felt it right off the bat. I felt like I really stepped up for our team today." Gerber's eventful game wasn't over just yet. With two outs in the seventh and the Knights up to bat, the shortstop let a sharp grounder by Mya Hartman get past her, scoring Hailey Yurmanovich and putting the tying run on second base. All was redeemed when pitcher Isla Gragg forced Morgan Ritchie to send a towering fly ball back Gerber's way, and she routinely camped under the ball for the final out. "I was so ready for a little redemption after that, because it really got me when that one got past me," she said. "I thought, 'Oh no, I just lost the game.' Then that one came to me and we win the game. It just feels so good." Wadsworth (4-11, 4-8) won for the third time in the past four games, as well as the fourth time in the past six SL National contests, with an offense that scored in four innings, including a five-run fifth. "We really didn't have any innings where I felt like there wasn't a bunch of work being put in," said Riley Gibson, who had two hits. "Obviously, the scoreboard shows it. Five runs in one inning is fantastic. I'm just super proud of everyone." Gibson, who was honored alongside Gerber as a senior with gifts that included a decorated ball and jar of dirt from the infield, drove in Gerber in the explosive third inning before scoring a wild pitch. Trailing 4-1, Kailyn Seibert led off with a walk and beat the throw to second on a grounder by Gant to put two runners on. Gerber then singled home Seibert and Myah Barlow walked to load the bases. Nordonia catcher Henderson's pickoff attempt to first base sailed into right field to score Gant ahead of Gibson's single. Savannah Blizzard also had a bunt single — her second in as many innings — that scored Barlow. Blizzard also made a tremendous impact behind the plate. She and Gerber executed a perfect double-steal defense to throw out Haydn Paul at home, as well as when Kaylee Bene leaned too far off second for a double play to end the first. The latter play limited the damage after the Knights scored three runs with the first four batters, all singles. Blizzard came back in the second to throw out Brittany Kovi stealing second, making Nordonia pay for an overly aggressive game plan on the basepaths. Nordonia also saw Paul called out to end the third inning for interfering with Barlow's route to a foul ball near third base. "Making those plays gets you so hyped and gets the whole team going," Blizzard said. "It makes you feel better, because the other team is less likely to steal when they've been thrown out a couple of times." After the Knights went ahead 7-6 with a run in the fourth and two in the fifth, Wadsworth tied when Lucy Roesink reached on a two-base error to start the inning and scored on a groundout by Olivia Vujas in the fifth that set the stage for Gerber. The Grizzlies' first run came in the first inning, when Delaney White led off with a single, stole second and scored on a groundout by Seibert. Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com. Wadsworth 9, Nordonia 8 NORDONIA 301 120 1 — 8 14 2 WADSWORTH 105 012 x — 9 11 5 WP — Isla Gragg (4-5) 7 innings, 7 earned runs, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts. LP — Kimory Shirey (1-5) 3 innings, 3 runs, 2 earned, 4 hits, walk, strikeout. Nordonia (6-14, 2-10) — Maddie Nyce 3 singles, run, RBI; Mya Henderson 3 singles, 2 runs, RBI; Morgan Ritchie single, run, 2 RBIs; Haydn Paul 2 singles; Amy Haselow double, run; Hailey Yurmanovich single, 2 runs. Wadsworth (4-11, 4-8) — Farrah Gant single, 2 runs; Emily Gerber 2 singles, home run, 2 runs, 3 RBIs; Riley Gibson 2 singles, run, RBI; Savannah Blizzard.