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Gibsonburg uses extra-inning magic in run to state semifinals

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If there's one thing Gibsonburg softball has, it's tradition.

The Bears have three state titles and plenty of accomplishments to their record, and they added to that this season with another regional championship.

Gibsonburg saw its season end in a Division VI state semifinal loss, 10-4, to Sugarcreek Garaway, but the defeat can't put a damper on what was a special season.

The game was tied, 4-4, after five innings, but the Pirates scored six runs in the sixth to take control. In fact, the Bears led 3-0 after the top of the first, but Garaway responded with three runs of their own and later took a 4-3 lead in the third.

“We had one bad inning in the sixth,” Gibsonburg coach Sarah Gruner said. “I couldn't be more proud of this team. They did an amazing job."

Gruner, who was on the 2004 Gibsonburg team that finished as the state runner-up, had several young players in big roles – such as freshmen pitchers Alivia Wauford and Ava Amor – and has a new crop of talented players coming in next year.

"I think we had a great season,” she said. “We're a young team. We had just one senior and four or five freshmen starting. We lost a few games to start the season, but we learned from those experiences, and we were able to turn it around.

“I see us going back to (state). I don't want to look too far ahead, (but) we have a good group of freshmen coming up. I see us being right back there next year. We have some big shoes to fill with Ansley (Fleming) leaving (though)."

Gibsonburg’s run to the state semifinals included a thrilling regional tournament that featured a pair of extra-inning victories.

In the regional final, Gibsonburg beat Ada, 4-0, in eight innings as Amor hit a two-run homer in the top of the eighth to give the Bears the lead for good over the Bulldogs. Emily Henderson added a sacrifice fly later in the frame.

In the bottom half, Wauford allowed a single, a walk and a hit batter to load the bases with two outs but induced a fly out to right to seal the regional title.

Amor, a freshman, and the lone senior on the team, Ansley Fleming, both went 3-for-4.

Fleming, a shortstop who recorded her 100th career hit in the loss to Garaway, relished the tournament run.

"The tournament run was an incredible experience with an amazing group of girls," she said. "It was exciting to be able to go back to the Final Four and finish my career at Firestone Stadium.

Wauford, a rookie who started each game of the tournament run in the circle, allowed no runs on just two hits and struck out eight batters while walking three in the regional final. She did not allow a base runner until the fifth.

"Alivia stepped up," Gruner said. "Ava got hurt and Alivia did a fantastic job pitching. Ada had a couple of errors and gave us the boost that we needed.

"I asked Alivia how she was feeling (against Ada), and she said she was ready. I think her confidence level wasn't comparable to where she started. When Ava was better, I asked who wanted the ball, and Alivia said she did. She was killing it."

Fleming had high praise for Wauford, who is the sister of Northwood High School’s senior pitcher Lea Wauford.

"Alivia did a great job throughout the tournament,” Fleming said. “We were in stressful situations in extra innings, and many pitchers, especially underclassmen, struggle. As a freshman, Alivia handled herself and was able to (thrive) under pressure."

In a 3-2 win over Bucyrus Wynford in the regional semifinal, the Bears tied it in the fifth before winning in the ninth inning. With two outs and nobody on, Fleming doubled to start the rally before scoring the game-winning run on a walk-off double from Cheyenne Reese.

Wauford struck out 12 while allowing four hits and seven walks in a complete game. One of the two runs she allowed was unearned.

"Those were some exciting games," Gruner said. "The girls kept their heads up the entire game, stayed in the game mentally, and I think that's why it went in our favor."

In a 6-2 win over rival Woodmore in the district final, Mia Brink had a two-run double, while Hall went 3-for-3 with three runs and two RBIs. Wauford allowed just two hits, three walks and zero earned runs with seven strikeouts over seven complete innings.

After earning a bye through sectional play, the Bears made easy work of Margaretta, 19-0, in the district semifinal behind multi-hit performances from Hall (3-for-3, two runs, two RBIs), Reese (3-for-3, three RBIs), Fleming (2-for-2, four runs, three RBIs), Wauford (2-for-3, two RBIs) and Brink (2-for-3, two RBIs).