KENT, Ohio — Timber Stoops never hesitated.
Stoops scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning as Hillsdale rallied for a 3-2 win over Plymouth in the Division IV regional championship game on a steamy Saturday afternoon at Kent State University’s Diamond at Dix.
Hillsdale (24-3) will play Pickerington regional champ Strasburg at 10 a.m. Thursday in the state semifinals at Akron Firestone Stadium. Strasburg beat Leesburg Fairfield 12-8 on Saturday.
With the score tied 2-2, Stoops led off the bottom of the eighth with a single to left. With Shelbi Long at the plate, Plymouth catcher Kaitie Bushey tried to pick Stoops off first base but the throw eluded first baseman Haven Keene and rolled down the right field line. Stoops broke for second as right fielder Tristen Wiley retrieved the ball. Wiley’s throw got away from shortstop Janet Arnold and Stoops cruised into third.
“We try to get the other team throwing the ball,” Hillsdale coach Ben Bolen said. “We figure we’ll win more than we lose if we have the right runners on base.”
With Stoops at third, Long struck out but the ball got away from Bushey. The junior quickly gathered it and threw to Keene at first to complete the strikeout. Stoops alertly broke for home as soon as the ball left Bushey’s hand and scored without a play.
“I knew as soon as she threw it I was going,” Stoops said. “It’s something we practice.”
By the time Bolen glanced over his shoulder in the third base coach’s box, Stoops was on her way to the plate.
“She’s played enough ball that you don’t have to tell her,” Bolen said. “She’s gone before I say anything. If I have to tell somebody to go, it’s too late. She’s pretty instinctive.
“We had the right runner on at the right time. Timber is fast and aggressive and a very smart baserunner.”
Hot Start: Plymouth (22-5) got to Hillsdale starter Sydney Long for two runs in the top of the first inning. Mallory Miller led off with an infield single and moved to second on Arnold’s sacrifice bunt. Callie Jones delivered a two-out RBI-single to left and came home on a Morgan Chaffins double.
“That’s kind of been our M.O.,” Plymouth coach Tracy Arnold said. “If we can get up we typically hold the momentum.”
The Falcons responded immediately.
Leadoff hitter Adrianna Rogers smoked a ball through the right side of the infield that rolled all the way to the base of the wall. The speedy Rogers scored standing up for an inside the park home run.
“(Rogers’) home run helped a lot,” Bolen said. “It’s like it took the panic (away). Our leadoff hitter makes it 2-1 and the panic was gone.”
Hillsdale pulled even in the fourth. Shelbi Long singled to lead off the inning and scored on younger sister Sydney’s two-out double to left.
“We’re normal high school girls so there is a little panic that sets in,” Stoops said of the early deficit. “We know that they are going to score, so we have to score more.”
In a Groove: After the rocky first inning, the younger Long was virtually unhittable. The sophomore right-hander retired the final 14 batters she faced and 21 of 22 from the second inning on. The only hit she allowed after the first was a single to Chaffins in the fourth.
“I knew we would be fine if we stayed positive,” Sydney Long said. “My screw ball and curve ball were working pretty good inside and outside. It was keeping them off-balance.
“I just made sure I worked hard and didn’t get down on myself.”
Fantastic Voyage: Plymouth advanced further than any team in school history. The Big Red reached the regional semifinals last year.
“It’s hard to see it come to an end,” Tracy Arnold said. “We gave it our all.”
Return Trip: Hillsdale boasts one of the strongest softball programs in the state. The Falcons will be making their 14th trip to the state semifinals and will be seeking their seventh state crown. Hillsdale won championships in 1979, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2000 and 2010.
“It’s really exciting,” said Stoops, one of just four seniors on the roster. “All the previous state winners were posting pictures of their state championships and wishing us luck.
“It’s exciting to represent them and represent ourselves and our school.”
