Seven county girls softball teams began region playoff action Thursday, with four posting wins to stay alive for the next round Monday.
Patterson Mill, Bel Air, C. Milton Wright and North Harford picked up the win, while Joppatowne, Edgewood and Aberdeen suffered season-ending losses.
Patterson Mill's win came over visiting Joppatowne in Class 1A North, Section I play. The Huskies (7-11) beat the Mariners (2-15), 23-13, in five innings, but the game was a bit more interesting than the final outcome with one inning the included 20 runs.
With multiple runs in each of its first three at bats, Patterson Mill built up an 11-1 lead and looked certain to be headed to the 10-run rule finish. The Huskies eventually did, but it came after five pitching changes.
Leading 11-1, the Huskies ran into trouble in the circle to begin the fourth. Angel O'Dell started the inning for Joppatowne with a single. The Huskies didn't record an out until O'Dell came back to the plate and delivered a sacrifice fly to drive in the eighth of nine runs scored in the inning.
Stephanie West was the only other Mariner hitter to have a hit in the inning. There were seven walks and four errors in the inning that saw three different pitchers work for the Huskies. When Megan Olszewski, the third and final Huskies pitcher, was able to record the final out, the Mariners had tightened the score up and trailed by just one, 11-10.
Unfortunately for the Mariners, Patterson Mill had an even bigger inning in its half of the fourth. The Huskies sent 14 batters to the plate, collected five hits, four walks and two hit batters to score 11 runs and lead 22-10.
Lauren Rossi (5-for-5, four RBIs) and Abby Laurentius (4-4, RBI) hit back-to-back triples to highlight the inning. Jenna Staton added an RBI single and later walked to drive in another later in the inning. Mia Godbey also had an RBI.
Needing three outs to close out the win, Patterson Mill saw Joppatowne plate three more runs and force the Huskies to bat again. Rossi's fifth hit started the winning rally. Laurentius also singled and Sarah DiNatale walked to load the bases. Olszewski walked to push across Rossi with the game-ending run.
Lacey Breeden was 4-for-5 with a double, triple and three RBIs for the Huskies. West and Kaitlyn Deel had two hits each to lead Joppatowne.
The Huskies will visit unbeaten and top seed Perryville (17-0) on Monday.
Bobcats win big
Bel Air (7-9) advanced in 4A North, Section I, defeating visiting Parkville, 10-0, in six innings.
The Bobcats scored one in the first, three in the second, four in the third and two in the sixth. Gwen Markowski took care of the rest, tossing a no-hitter.
Kat Perea went 4-for-4 with two RBIs to pace the offense and Amanda Criss was 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Sarah Fleischmann (RBI) and Jill Kozak both went 2-for-4. Kozak had an RBI triple.
Savannah Meyers ( two RBIs) had the game ending single. Brianna Fleischmann (two RBIs), Morgan Dvorak and Erin Pugh helped the cause with singles.
The Bobcats will play at top seed Perry Hall on Monday.
Mustangs roll
C. Milton Wright's road back to the 3A state final started with a 13-1, five-inning win over visiting Patapsco in 3A North, Section II play.
The Mustangs (15-5) scored twice in the first inning, but blew the game open with eight runs in inning two.
Three Mustang batters had two extra-base hits each and pitchers Morghan Fulton and Arianna Gallamoza combined for a one-hit win. The two combined for 12 strikeouts.
CMW shortstop Emily Kim went 2-for-3 with two doubles, three runs and an RBI. Lexi Childress was 2-for-2 with two doubles and two RBIs.
The hottest bat of the week belongs to catcher Danielle DeAgostino, who had three multi-hit games in a row and finished the day 2-for-2 with a double, triple and RBI.
Fulton started and pitched four innings for the win, allowing one hit and striking out nine. Arianna Gallamoza finished things up, pitching the fifth and striking out the side.
The Mustangs will host North Harford in Monday's next round at 4 p.m.
Hawks edge Rams
North Harford (11-5) made the most out of six hits en route to a 3-2 victory over visiting Edgewood (4-14) in 3A North, Section II play.
The Hawks scored a run in the first inning when courtesy runner Jocee Sevilla scored on a single by Ada Heinze. Sevilla was running for Krista Hiser, who reached on a base hit.
Edgewood had also scored in the first, but the Hawks broke the 1-1 tie In the fifth inning with two runs. Kelly Harkins drove in a run with a hit and Kristyn Stiles also singled and scored on a squeeze bunt by Sarah Collins.
Amanda Sullivan led the Rams with a double and RBI.
Hiser pitched six innings for the win, giving up two runs, seven hits and three walks, while striking out 10. Hunter Harbaugh pitched the seventh inning, striking out two.
Sullivan took the loss, striking out three.
Eagles knocked out
Aberdeen (11-8) also played in 3A North, Section II, but visiting Towson shut down the Eagles on two hits in a 7-0 win.
Emily Nance took the loss, while Mackense Grieco and Raechel Bowman had Aberdeen's two hits, both singles.