After two frustrating years of falling short in the quest for another crown, The Crossroads finally returned to the top of the heap in Wayne County Women’s Softball League tournament action.
On Monday evening in Hawley’s Bingham Park, the team that once won seven titles in 10 years cruised to a 7-3 victory over Cora’s Bistro in the 2010 championship game.
“It’s good to be back on top,” longtime player/coach Jody Leach said just moments after the game. “We worked really hard for this and it feels great!”
Setting the Stage
The Crossroads (7-3) finished third in the regular season this summer, trailing undefeated Cherry Ridge (10-0) and Cora’s (8-2) in the overall standings.
However, once the annual tournament began on Saturday in Bingham Park, The Crossroads started flexing its muscles.
The Hideout-based ball club kicked off an unbeaten run through the bracket by dealing Bennoco’s a 3-1 loss. They followed that up with a 7-1 decision over the Beavers.
Both of these wins represented a bit of vengeance. Cora’s and Bennoco’s had each beaten The Crossroads during the ‘10 campaign.
Next up for the champs was a much-anticipated showdown with CRVC, the tournament’s #1 seed. In the end, the power pitching of ace Amy Pregnar was too much and The Crossroads prevailed, 9-6.
That sent Cherry Ridge spiraling into the losers’ bracket and up against an inspired Cora’s squad.
This epic battle stretched out over two days thanks to a Sunday afternoon downpour. The game resumed on Monday and ended with a 10-7 Beavers’ victory.
Heather Reimann paced the offense with a pair of key hits and three runs.
Starter and winner Juli Greep helped her cause by blasting two RBI triples.
This set the stage for an intriguing title tilt match-up Monday night.
Over & Out
The Crossroads took advantage of several costly Cora’s errors to build up a quick lead.
The Beavers booted three balls in the first two frames, resulting in three unearned runs and a 4-0 deficit.
Jessica “JP” Parry delivered a critical early blow, stroking a 2-run single in the bottom of the second.
Staring at a 4-run hole, Cora’s finally broke through against Pregnar with one in the fourth and two more in the top of the fifth.
Kim Modrovsky came through in the clutch with a bases-loaded, 2-run single to rightfield.
Sadly for a big contingent of Beaver fans, these were the last runs Cora’s would score in the game...and on the season.
