Halstead’s heroics send Garaway on to regionals in walk-off fashion

It appeared as though the Lady Pirates had their district final showdown game with Inter-Valley Conference foe Sandy Valley sewn up. Then it looked for all the world that they had completely kicked it away.But in the end, Garaway’s Hannah Halstead stepped up in the biggest way possible, delivering an eighth-inning, two-run walk-off home run to lift Garaway to a thrilling 6-4 victory that sent her team on to regionals.Having taken a 4-1 lead into the top of the seventh inning, and needing just three outs to secure a victory, it seemed like Garaway had this one in the bag, with Allison Luneborg dominating on the mound.However, a usually solid defense fell apart in the seventh, allowing Sandy Valley to come storming back.Maddy Russell reached on an error by Halstead at short, and after a bunt out moved her to second, catcher Kendall Reidenbach dropped a foul pop up, keeping Alyssa Sines alive. She then hit a slow roller to second that Katya Misko couldn’t glove. On came Kassidy Reidenbach in relief of Luneborg, who had certainly done her part to keep the mighty Sandy Valley bats at bay.Lead-off hitter Meg Otte made Garaway pay by rifling a base hit to right field that eluded Ashleigh Rothacre, allowing two runs to score as Otte raced all the way around to third. It was the fourth error of a nightmare inning, and when Makayla Laurens slapped a single to left, the game was knotted up at 4-4.The wheels were quickly coming off for Garaway, and when Chloe Otte raked a double to left-center, it put Cardinals runners on second and third with one out.But Reidenbach induced the dangerous Abbie Hughes to pop out to second, and Destinee Hughes popped to short to end the threat.“We actually went a stretch of nine games without making an error this year, so our defense is usually a real strength,” said Garaway skipper Dennis Koshmider. “It was unusual for us to go through that. Maybe it was just the pressure. But I would rather look at the way we responded when they had tied the game and were looking to go ahead. They had second and third and one out in the seventh, and we were able to shut the door. I think if they had gone ahead there, we wouldn’t have recovered.”Instead the game went to the bottom of the seventh, where Garaway quickly loaded the bases on singles from Amber Immel and Kendall Reidenbach, and an intentional walk to Kassidy Reidenbach. However, after a 10-pitch marathon at bat versus Lexi Lingler, Sandy Valley pitcher Abbie Hughes was able to get her to pop out, and Luneborg flew out to right. The game was going into extra innings, something Garaway knows a little bit about, having gone into extra play against the Cardinals earlier this season, and going nine innings in last year’s thrilling district final win.Kassidy Reidenbach set down the bottom of the Cardinals’ order in the eighth, leading to what would be the heroic appearance of Halstead.Immel said winning the game in the eighth was key, because of where the batting order was for the Cardinals.“We knew they had the top of their order coming up in the next inning, so we felt we had to win it in the eighth,” said Immel.A walk for Katelyn Stress and a sacrifice bunt would put the winning run at second. Halstead would make sure there was no need for a sprint to the plate on a base hit, towering a 1-2 pitch just over the left field wall, setting up a joyful celebration in Cambridge, just as was the case last year when Lingler did the same with a home run.“I started crying before I even got to second base,” said Halstead of the game-winner. “I felt bad because I felt like I made some costly errors in the game, so this felt really good.”What really felt good was when she reached home plate, and her teammates mobbed her as they celebrated in walk-off fashion.“I told the girls after that bad seventh inning, that all we did was make this an exciting game for the fans,” said Koshmider after it was all over. “Now we will remember how we hung in there and won in thrilling fashion.”Koshmider said that his team did what St. Clairesville was unable to do after blowing a big lead to Sandy in the district semifinal. They were able to put a bad inning behind them and refocus, which is the sign of a great team.Koshmider also said that having played Sandy Valley twice in league play, he would have much preferred to play St. Clairesville.“We wanted no part of Sandy Valley, and you can print that,” said Koshmider emphatically. “They are a talented, terrific offensive team.”Sandy Valley coach Jill Williams said she was proud of her team for battling back, and they too knew this would be a tough game.“We didn’t get some of the key hits we wish our kids would have gotten,” said Williams. We have been explosive all year long, and we knew we could come back.”As for Halstead’s eventual heroics, Williams said, “We knew she was dangerous.”Halstead hasn’t had the offensive season she was hoping for, but coming off a three hit night in the district semifinal win, coupled with the big home run, it appears as though she is rounding into form at just the right time.It certainly led to a moment she will not soon forget.Kendall Reidenbach stroked three single for the Lady Pirates, while Abby Detweiler added a pair of hits and Kaitlyn Stress drilled a huge double to plate the run that broke a 1-1 tie in the fourth inning. Chloe Otte had a pair of huge hits for Sandy Valley, including what could be the longest home run of the season, a ball she bashed over the right-center field fence in the first inning off of Luneborg.Garaway improved to 25-4 on the season, while Sandy Valley bowed out with a tremendous 25-3 mark.