Sectional softball: Keystone breaks through for easy win after Clearview puts up a fight early

LAGRANGE — Clearview left the field Thursday optimistic after it gave Keystone a fight early in a Division III sectional final. The Wildcats left the field elated after battling through the Clippers' stubbornness and rolling to a 16-0 victory in five innings. "I do indeed want to compliment Clearview because they put together one heck of a team this year and they continued to battle all through the season," Keystone coach Gina Gibson said. "And it was certainly a game that we knew we had to go out and attack to make sure we came out the victors." Keystone, 20-1 and ranked sixth in the state, scored three times in the first inning as it took advantage of a pair of Clearview errors, a hit batter and a walk. Jordan Owca reached on a bunt single and Delaney Peters had a sharp single to center during the inning, but the Clippers used several solid defensive plays to limit the damage. The Clippers (8-12) looked even better in the second inning as Alina Pallens ran down a fly ball in the gap, Angela Trent cut down Owca on another bunt attempt and Keystone leadoff hitter Bella Minisall was stranded at third as Clearview managed to keep the Wildcats off the scoreboard. That was apparently the point where Keystone had enough as it erupted for nine runs in the third. Hannah Gurich, Peters, Brooklyn Wise and Minisall all hit doubles, Peters blasted a triple to right-center during her second at-bat of the inning and Jalyn Owca rocketed a shot well over the center field fence for a home run. "I got in the box just wanting to kill the ball," Jalyn said. "I know the rest of my teammates felt the same way because our bats were on fire tonight. I loved (seeing the reserve players get involved throughout the game, too). That's what it's all about, just letting different people hit in these types of games." The Wildcats added four runs in the fourth, with Gibson pinch hitting for most of the starters through the heart of the lineup. "I think this team is just really special … our girls really love each other and love playing for each other," Gibson said. "Each game, that's really been shining through." While Clearview fought early against Keystone's vaunted offensive attack, it had no answer for pitcher Peters and the Wildcats defense. The Clippers managed just two hits and the first was erased with a textbook 1-6-3 double play. Clearview put two other batters on base — Jocelyn Pallens via walk and Nevaeh Berrios due to catcher's interference — but catcher Jalyn Owca picked Pallens off first to end the third inning. "I was kind of eyeing her for a little while," Owca said. "Then I just saw Miss Gibson kind of give me a little head nod and so I'm like, 'Yeah, let's do it.'" Peters, who went 3-for-3 and finished just a homer short of hitting for the cycle, finished with nine strikeouts. "I was just very relaxed in the circle today," Peters said. "My defense had my back — our defense was amazing out there today — so we just kept our foot on the gas pedal and played at 100 percent." Due to a rain-filled spring sports season, the Clippers still have to play their Senior Night game against Oberlin on Monday, and assistant coach Robin Dahman, who filled in for head coach Mark Majoras while he was out of state for a meeting, believes the team could still finish the season on a high note. "Keystone is historically an amazing program, they're well-disciplined, and kudos to them," Dahman said. "I'm super happy with the way my girls played. They played hard, they played great and they made some phenomenal plays out there. So I'm really proud of them. "(Oberlin) is a big game for us because we're losing six (seniors), so that's going to be a big deal to us. This has been a fun ride." The postseason ride continues for Keystone, which advances to face West Salem Northwestern in the district semifinals Tuesday at Wellington Community Park. "One game at a time," Gibson said of the Wildcats' playoff approach. "So that means a fresh start each game. As you know, the pressure is just going to continue to build when you're in your tournament run. So to be able to feel a little bit of that early on in this game was important for them to overcome and work through." Contact Shaun Bennett at (440) 329-7137 or sbennett@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him @ShaunBennettct on Twitter.