WEST CHESTER TWP. — The Lakota West High School softball team didn’t hit the panic button after falling behind early Tuesday night.
The Firebirds responded with timely hitting and steady defense to rally past the visiting Talawanda Brave for a 10-6 nonconference victory.
Lakota West trailed 4-0 after the first inning before chipping away and eventually taking control in the middle innings.
“We were losing in the first inning, and nobody was down on themselves,” Firebirds junior Paige Kopp said. “But then we started getting up and started hitting, and just everyone started getting excited. If someone starts doing it, everyone carries it on.”
The shift in energy fueled the comeback.
Lakota West (2-1) finished with 12 hits and scored at least one run in five separate innings. Bellea Lucas led the way with three hits, including two doubles, while Jordan Beimesche added two hits and two RBIs. Ava Gilbert contributed two hits, including a double, and Leah Witmer reached base three times with a hit and two walks.
The Firebirds tied the game before moving in front 7-6 in the bottom of the third. The decisive blow came off Kopp’s bat when she lined a two-out, two-run single up the middle to extend the lead to 9-6 in the fifth.
“I just stepped into the box, took a deep breath, saw my pitch and took it,” Kopp said. “It felt so good to see it off the bat.”
Pitching stabilized after the opening inning. Lakota West’s Lyla Gully worked through the early damage, allowing six runs over three innings, before Gilbert shut the door with four scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out five.
“I think we’ve got girls that just have to start gaining confidence in themselves,” Lakota West coach Keith Castner said. “We’re an older team than we’ve been the last couple of years. We need to rise to the occasion in pressure situations and get it done — and I believe we did that a few times today.
“We’ve got to continue to field the ground ball and then make the play. Do part A before you get to part B. They did what they needed to do down the stretch.”
Talawanda (3-1) showed early promise, jumping out to a four-run first inning and finishing with 11 hits.
The Brave collected doubles from Bella Cobb, Quinn Frieden and Brooklyn Porchowsky. Frieden went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, Porchowsky drove in two runs, and Cobb added a hit, an RBI and a stolen base. Audrey Hilbert also had two hits, while Hazel Cheatham and Maddy Cox each drove in a run.
“We’ve shown some early glimpses,” Talawanda coach Scott Davie said. “Obviously, we’re only four games in, so we’re still trying to get a good read on everything, but there have been times offensively where we’ve been really strong.
“We haven’t been as good in the second half, though, and we need to improve there. Today was another example. Looking at all four games, that’s been the trend — we’ve gotten off to good starts but haven’t been able to sustain it. Some of that is taking our foot off the gas.”
Lakota West’s pitching and defense tightened as the game progressed, limiting further damage after the opening inning.
In the circle for Talawanda, Kaylee Griffin allowed one run over two innings, Allie McMickle surrendered five runs (three earned) in two innings, and Bea Yerigan allowed four runs in two frames.
Davie said his team remains encouraged despite the result.
“I think we’re in a pretty good place,” Davie said. “Defensively, we’ve made strides, and pitching-wise we’re kind of by committee, but we’ve got a decent rotation. It’s early, and we’re still figuring things out.”
Lakota West hosts Monroe on Wednesday, while Talawanda faces Ursuline Academy on Friday at the Blue Ash Sports Complex.
“With our teamwork and just being together, I think we can accomplish big things,” Kopp said. “Everyone’s there for each other, and it’s just so much fun to be around. I’m excited to see what we do the rest of the season.”
