Woodmansee lifts Felicity to 5-4 win
Felicity-Franklin Cardinals right-hander Sandy Woodmansee battled control issues during Tuesday night's sectional final, but she never allowed that, or what she believed to be some questionable calls by the home plate umpire, frustrate her. As a batter, the sophomore took matters into her own hands and delivered the decisive blow.
Woodmansee's two-out, two-run double in the fifth inning drove home the eventual game-winning runs for Felicity in a 5-4 victory over Fayetteville-Perry in a Division IV sectional final at Kings High School.
Felicity, ranked No. 5 in the final Enquirer Division II-IV coaches' poll, advances to face the winner of Covington/Fort Loramie on Friday at 5 p.m. at Brookville High School.
"I got a little nervous at times," said Woodmansee, who allowed four runs on eight hits with four walks and five strikeouts. "I knew to keep it inside on their 3-4-5 hitters. I felt like I would hit the corner, then I wouldn't get the call. I think it was a well-played game between two good teams."
Fayetteville senior Claire Carson allowed five runs on seven hits with a walk and eight strikeouts, and junior outfielder Riley Wolf had a pair of hits and RBI.
"I figured it would be a one-run game going in," said Fayetteville coach Carmen Carson. "The team that made the fewest mistakes would win, unfortunately it wasn't us. (Felicity) is a good team. No shame in losing by a run to them."
Fayetteville loaded the bases with two outs in the third on a walk and a pair of singles by Carson and McKenna Hammons. Woodmansee walked Wolf on a 3-2 pitch to put Fayetteville ahead 1-0.
Woodmansee had five 3-ball counts and issued three walks through the first three innings. But she was able to limit the damage.
"She was missing by an inch," said Felicity coach Rob Wear. "She did everything we needed her to do tonight."
Leadoff batter Brittany Drake doubled off the left-fielder's glove leading off the third, advanced to third on a passed ball, and scored on Allie Rodriguez's infield hit to tie the score 1-1.
Rodriguez later scored from second when Woodmansee's ground ball caromed off the third baseman's glove for an error, making the score 2-1. The Cardinals' third run scored on a wild pitch.
A two-run single by Wolf put Fayetteville briefly ahead 4-3 in the fifth.
PLAY OF THE GAME: Woodmansee's two-run double in the fifth inning sailed over the Fayetteville center fielder's head, allowing the tying and go-ahead runs to score.
STAR OF THE GAME: Woodmansee went 2-for-2, including the game-winning two-run double, and was effective enough pitching.
VIEW FROM THE SIDELINE: Carson's eight strikeouts were either on high heat or a knee-buckling off-speed pitch. "She lives on the change-up or the high pitch, based on the scouting report," said Carmen Carson of Claire, a former shortstop. "She's a very smart pitcher."
Fayetteville 001 120 0 - 4 8 2
Felicity 003 020 0 - 5 7 3
W–Woodmansee. L–Carson. Leaders: Fel–Drake 2-3, 2B, R, RBI; Rodriguez 2-3, R, RBI; Woodmansee 2-2, 2B, 2 RBI. Fay–Carson 2-3, R, RBI; Wolf 1-2, 2 RBI. Records: Fel 14-1, Fay 11-8.