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Raiders bowl over Eagles

South Range’s Caragyn Yanek pitches against United on Tuesday. (Salem News/Chris Rambo)

GREENFORD — In a battle between two ace pitchers unwilling to yield an inch, it was fitting that the only run in Tuesday’s first-place showdown between South Range and United was manufactured on a ball that didn’t even get past the circle.

In the bottom of the seventh, South Range pinch runner Maddie Helon raced around third and scored after a collision at first base on a bunt attempt by Hannah Dennison to give the Raiders a highly unconventional 1-0 walk-off win over the Eagles at South Range High School.

Helon’s dash ended a tense pitching duel between South Range’s Caragyn Yanek and United’s Annie Paterson, and gave the sixth-ranked Raiders (11-4, 5-1) sole possession of first place in the Inter-Tri County League Red Division. United (9-4, 4-2) falls back into a tie for second with Springfield.

“I’ve never seen a game end quite like this,” South Range coach Jeff DeRose said. “We were just trying to get Maddie over to third so we could suicide squeeze her in. It was unbelievable to have it end like that.”

The ending happened so fast that it left everyone stunned.

With one out, Lydia Baird was barely nicked by a pitch from Paterson. Helon pinch-ran for her and stole second, which was followed by a walk from Yanek. Dennison came up and laid down a bunt back to the circle. Paterson fielded the ball, glanced to third and decided to throw to first, where first baseman Hannah Mix and second baseman Kaitlyn Phillips were both covering. Mix caught the ball for the out but collided with Dennison and fell to the ground behind the bag. Helon was partially around third and broke for home after the collision. After a conference by the umpires, it was determined that there was no interference and the game was over.

“I knew I was going to third when she (Dennison) bunted, and when I saw the first baseman go down I knew I should go home,” Helon said. “It felt really good to come off the bench and help the team.”

From his vantage point, DeRose chalked it up to a freak play.

“It was clean in my opinion because our girl wasn’t laying on top of their girl. I think it was inadvertent,” DeRose said. “The rest is history.”

United coach Ryan Burd said he did not want his team to dwell on the way the game ended, but focus on how hard they battled the defending Div. III state runner-up for seven innings.

“The umpires called it the way they called it, and that’s why they’re paid the big bucks. We’ll leave it at that” Burd said. “All I asked of them was to give everything they had and that’s what they did. They have nothing to be ashamed of. They showed they belong in the conversation at the top of this tier.”

The pitching matchup between Yanek and Paterson–two of the top pitchers in the area–certainly did not disappoint.

Yanek struck out nine, walked two and gave up two hits. The Eagles had runners and first and second with two outs in both the third and fifth innings but could not break through either time.

“I knew I had to be really sharp going against her (Paterson),” Yanek said. “I knew I had to locate my pitches well. I was completely confident on the mound because I knew my infield and outfield would work their butts off to back me up.”

The lefty Paterson matched Yanek every step of the way, finishing with 12 strikeouts and two walks. The only hit she gave up was a one-out single by Hope Thomas in the fifth. Paterson also hit five South Range batters, making that the Raiders best source of offense.

“There was no margin for error with Yanek pitching and Annie did a really nice job,” Burd said. “She hit her spots and kept a really good team at bay. I’m really proud of her.”

Knowing how valuable one run was, South Range didn’t hesitate to steal whenever someone got on base. The Raiders put runners in scoring position in the second, fourth, fifth and sixth innings, but Paterson held firm each time. South Range stole seven bases, but finished the game 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

The Raiders have faced a lot of good competition over the last couple of years, and DeRose said Paterson stacks up favorably with anyone they’ve seen.

“Annie’s a hell of a pitcher; she’s one of the best I’ve seen in a long time,” DeRose said. “Tonight she did an excellent job of mixing her pitches and just held us in check. It was a heck of a game.”

Game notes

¯The league race could still go a number of ways. South Range can clinch a share of the title today at East Palestine and must beat Paterson and United again on Friday for the outright title. United hosts Springfield today as both teams try to keep their hopes for a share of the title alive.

UN: 0-0-0-0-0-0-0–0-2-0

SR: 0-0-0-0-0-0-1–1-1-0

UN–Annie Paterson, lp, (6 2/3 IP, 12K, 2BB) and Megan Brewer.

SR–Caragyn Yanek, wp, (7IP, 9K, 2BB) and Hanna Dennison.

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