The No. 4 Loudonville softball team had a bye on the first round of the Division III, Northeast 4 tournament, but on May 10 the Redbirds suffered a 6-3 Sectional Finals loss to No. 6 Tuslaw to end their season 19-6.
The Redbirds went up 1-0 in the bottom of the third inning when Addison Wolford blasted a solo shot to lead off the inning. Tuslaw wasted no time to respond by tying the game up 1-1 in the top of the fourth on a Gracie Sirgo hit an RBI single. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Carlee Young hit a sacrifice fly to put the Redbirds up by one.
However, in the top of the fifth inning, Kylie Johnson showed off her power and clutch hitting with a grand slam to left field to make it a 5-2 Tuslaw lead. In the top of the seventh inning, Tuslaw put another run on the board when a runner scored on a passed ball.
Young made things interesting inn the bottom of the seventh by leading off with a solo homer. Karena Burgess hit a two out double, but Tuslaw was able to shut down Loudonville to take the win to become Sectional Champions.
Wolford was 2-for-4 with a homer, an RBI and a run scored to pace the Redbird offense. Young was 1-for-2 with a homer, two RBIs and a run. Burgess hit a pair of doubles, and went 3-for-4 in the game.
Natalee Buzzard went the distance but was handed the loss. Over the course of seven innings, she allowed six runs but none of them earned. She gave up seven hits and three walks, while striking out four batters.
It was a tough way for the season to end for the Redbirds, as they were undefeated in Mid-Ohio Buckeye Conference play this season and poised for a big tournament run after coming off a 16-0 win over Lucas on May 6 and a 4-1 win over Danville on May 7.
During the Lucas game, the team tallied 16 hits with six players having multi-hit games. Hannah Gray was 3-for-4 with four RBIs. Burgess had three RBIs, and hit a double and a triple in a 2-for-3 day.
Against Danville, Burgess and Payton VanSickle each homered for the Redbirds. Buzzard went seven innings, allowing an earned run, three hits and two walks, while striking out eight batters.
Tuslaw now moves onto the District Semifinals against No. 3 Manchester on May 14.
