KYLE MENNIG/ONEIDA DAILY DISPATCH VVS' Kate Regner lines a one-out double to the left-center field gap during a game against Whitesboro on Monday, May 13, 2013.
VERONA >> All season Vernon-Verona-Sherrill softball coach Gary Oliver has pushed the value of playing a complete game to his squad.
Monday afternoon the Red Devils did just that and it paid off in an exciting 4-3 walk-off victory over Whitesboro. VVS rallied from a 3-2 deficit entering the seventh inning with Gabby Brewster driving in the game-winning run on an RBI single (watch the play here).
The Red Devils took an early lead in the bottom of the first inning. Kate Regner hit a one-out double to the left-center field gap but was erased after coming too far off second base on Jenna Dunne's ground ball. Dunne reached first and stole second to give Sam Kogut a runner in scoring position with two outs. Kogut came through, blooping a single to left field to score Dunne and put VVS up 1-0.
Whitesboro responded in the top of the third. Nicole Sergott drew a one-out walk, stole second and scored on Brandi Blaszak's RBI single. Blaszak reached third but was stranded there when Krista Rounds grounded out to second.
The visitors took the lead in the top of the next inning. Alyssa Trad led off with a walk, stole second and advanced to third on Rounds' single. Lindsey Roberts laid down a bunt and Rounds broke home on Szczerba's throw to first. Kogut's throw home was not in time as Trad scored to put her squad up 2-1. Whitesboro was in position for a big inning but Regner's hustle kept the lead at one run. Rounds attempted to score from third on a wild pitch but the Red Devils' catcher tracked down the ball and threw her out at the plate with Szczerba applying the tag. After another walk Szczerba settled down to strike Sergott out looking to end the threat.
The Red Devils had chances to tie the game in the next two innings. VVS couldn't score a runner from second with one out in the bottom of the fourth. It got a better chance in the bottom of the fifth. Szczerba and Regner hit back-to-back one-out singles and an error on the second one put runners on second and third. Dunne popped out to the catcher on the next pitch and Kogut grounded out to shortstop to end the frame.
Whitesboro added an insurance run in the top of the sixth. Lindsey Leone lined a one-out single to center hand came home to score after three wild pitches. Again the visitors had a chance for more, but Szczerba struck Sergott out looking.
The missed opportunity would prove to come up huge. VVS began to chip away at the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Ally Szczerba walked and scored with the help of two Whitesboro errors before pitcher Ashley Robinson rallied to strike out the final three batters of the frame.
Addy Szczerba took the circle for the Red Devils in the seventh needing to shut down the heart of Whitesboro's batting order to keep her team in the game. She did just that, striking out the side to set up the offense in the bottom of the frame.
Regner led off the bottom of the seventh with a long double over the left fielders head. She advanced to third on Dunne's groundout and scored on a wild pitch to Kogut. Kogut eventually drew a walk and Ally Szczerba followed with an infield single. Jordan Penoyer walked to load the bases for Brewster, who hit a sharp ground ball past the second baseman to bring home Kogut with the winning run.
"It was something that they really needed for their spirits," said Oliver. "Hopefully it gives themselves confidence for the rest of the week."
Ashley Robinson (L) and Alexa Wojtowycz; Addy Szczerba (W) and Kate Regner.
Records: Whitesboro 5-1, 8-6; VVS 5-8.