Avonworth catcher Marissa Milbert tags out a Bentworth runner in the fourth inning of the girls’ softball team’s playoff game. Photo by Tom Steiner for The Citizen

By JIM RUMBLE

If you wanted to see a perfect example of the expression “it ain't over ‘til it’s over” played out, you should have been at the Avonworth softball team's WPIAL first round game against Bentworth on Tuesday, May 18.

The Lady ‘Lopes, who trailed by nine runs going into the final inning in regulation, managed to tie the game, but then fell in extra innings 14-13.

"I've never seen anything like that before,” said head coach Chris Knox. “These kids played a good game, showed a lot of passion, and you can't give any more than that."

The Bearcats got on the scoreboard in the top of the second, taking advantage of a couple of delicate hits that barely dropped in for singles but gave Bentworth a 2-0 lead.

While Erin Zakor was able to provide the only hit for Avonworth through the first three innings, Bentworth capitalized with two runs in the third and then added three runs in the top of the fourth to lead 7-0.

The 'Lopes finally made some noise in the bottom of the fourth, starting the inning with a double to left field by pitcher Julianne Hirsch.

With one out, catcher Marissa Milbert reached base on an error while the wild throw to first on the play enabled Hirsch to score, putting the ‘Lopes behind 7-1.

Milbert had moved to second on the play when Laura Presutti reached base on an error by the Bentworth shortstop that brought a run across and a 7-2 Bearcat lead.

Presutti moved to second on a wild pitch when Molly Frew stroked a two-run homer over the left field fence that had Avonworth trailing 7-4 going into the fifth.

If there was any bit of optimism by 'Lopes fans at this point, it probably dissipated when the Bearcats came to bat. While Hirsch struggled to find the strike zone, Bentworth took advantage of a couple of hits and five walks that generated six runs and put the Bearcats in front 13-4.

The score remained that way until Avonworth battled back in the bottom of the seventh.

The inning started with a one-out hit by Tracy Catanzarite, followed by a base hit to center by Zakor that put runners on first and second.

Ali Chambers hit a ground-out to shortstop that moved the runners to second and third with two outs.

Stephanie Klesic, who replaced Hirsch on the mound in the sixth, followed with an RBI single to right field, putting the score at 13-5 with runners on first and third.

Natalie Zivic hit an RBI single to right field to put the score at 13-6, where the game almost ended.

Milbert's fly ball to center was dropped, scoring a run and putting the score at 13-7 with runners at first and second.

Presutti followed with a grounder to shortstop that was overthrown at first base, scoring pinch runner Chloe Schmid and putting runners at first and third.

Frew's hit through third base scored another run before Kelsey Knox was walked, loading the bases with the 'Lopes trailing 13-9.

Catanzarite followed with a hit to right field, scoring two runs, and Zakor's hit to right center scored two more, knotting the teams at 13-13.

With Zakor on second base, Chambers hit a fly ball to right field to record the third out and send the teams into extra innings.

The teams made it to the 10th inning, where the international tie-breaker rule went into effect. Under that rule, each team was able to place a runner at second base and try its hardest to turn that runner into a scorer.

Bentworth advanced their runner to third on a ground-out, and scored her with a base hit to take a 14-13 lead. Avonworth wasn't as fortunate, going down in order in their half of the inning to end the game, the playoffs, and their season.