Solon closing in on division title

MANCHESTER -- It's not about the wins. At least, not yet.

So says Ben Sorden, softball coach at Solon High School.

"It's more about the process than wins and losses," Sorden said. "If we do things right in the process, the wins and losses will take care of themselves."

They did Monday night.

Emily Bransky hit a two-run, go-ahead double in the top of the seventh inning to help lift the Class 3A top-ranked Spartans to a 5-3 win over 4A No. 12 West Delaware in the first game of a Wamac Conference East Division double-header at Sill Field.

The Spartans captured the nightcap, 8-4, to strengthen their hold on the division race. Solon improved to 23-3 overall -- all three of their losses have come against 5A top-10 teams -- and 10-0 in the division.

"We're really looking forward to a (division championship)," said Solon's Taylor Nearad. "We've always brought that swagger."

West Delaware (21-7, 6-4) was in position to take the opener.

The Hawks took a 3-2 lead into the seventh inning. No. 9 batter Alyssa McDowell drove a two-run homer to left to tie it 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth, then Mikaela Boss singled home Autumn Reeder to put West Delaware in front.

But Solon, a team that came into the twinbill with a .440 team batting average but was held to two hits in the first six innings, awakened its bats in time.

A walk and an error started the uprising, then Bransky delivered the big blow to left-center field. Alyssa Rickels drove Bransky home on a ground out for an insurance run.

"We all got pumped up, and when one person starts to hit, it really gets contagious," Nearad said.

Nearad homered in the second game as Solon built a 6-0 lead, then held off the Hawks. Bransky was hit in the arm by a pitch late in the game and left the complex in a sling for medical treatment.

West Delaware was hit hard by graduation after a seventh-place finish at state, but was competitive Monday against one of the state's best teams -- in any class.

"We're close," Hawks Coach Kevin Schuchmann said. "I'm extremely happy. These kids aren't scared of anybody. They just want to keep playing ball."

Emily Ira picked up both pitching wins in relief. Arran Weeces, the starter in Game 1, picked up the save in the nightcap.

Game 1

R

H

E

Solon

1 0 0

1 0 0

3

--

5

4

1

West Delaware

0 0 0

0 3 0

--

3

7

3

Arran Weeces, Emily Ira (5) and Hannah Turkal. Hannah Cole and Alyssa McDowell. W -- Ira (3-0). L -- Cole (17-4). HR -- WD: Alyssa McDowell (1).

Holly Hinkel, Emily Ira (4), Arran Weeces (6) and Ali Herdliska, Hannah Turkal (6). Hannah Cole, Sarah Gonner (2), Cole (6) and Alyssa McDowell. W -- Ira (4-0). L -- Cole (17-5). SV -- Weeces. HR -- S: Taylor Neared (1); WD: Mackenzie Harbaugh (2).

Game 2

R

H

E

Solon

3 2 1

0 0 0

2

--

8

11

West Delaware

0 0 0

3 0 1

--

4

10