By Ryan Mink
rmink@digitalsports.com

Sherwood Coach Pat Flanagan always tells her team that there are no do-overs in softball. That once an opportunity is gone, it’s gone.

Well the Warriors have proven Flanagan wrong their past two playoff games, especially in their 5-4 extra-innings win over Gaithersburg in the 4A West region Friday evening.

After Sherwood failed to score in the bottom of the seventh with runners on second and third and nobody out, Gaithersburg pushed across two runs in the top of the eighth inning.

But when given a second chance Sherwood rallied, scoring three runs in the bottom of the eighth – including the final run on an overthrow to first base – to win its third 4A West region crown in the past three years.

Aftewards, Flanagan was asked where this game ranked on thrilling finishes.

“Right at the tippy top,” she said. “Wednesday, I thought, that was right at the tippy top.”

In Wednesday’s 4A West region semifinals, Sherwood beat Blair, 5-4, by scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh. The game-winning run came on a play at the plate when the catcher – who was trying to turn a double play – didn’t have her foot on the plate.

Thus, even playing for the region title was a second chance for Sherwood.

Gaithersburg seemed bent and able of breaking the Warriors’ run, however. The Trojans scored first on an RBI single by Jennifer Hance. Sherwood answered with two runs in the bottom of the third on an Amanda Nardone triple and Kristin Holonich single.

Gaithersburg fired back in the top of the fourth when Colleen Everett doubled and then scored on a grounder to second base to tie the game at 2. That’s where the score remained until Sherwood rallied in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings.

The Warriors left the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth when Gaithersburg starting pitcher Julie Hance struck out Leah Rufus, who saved a Trojans run from scoring the half inning before with a shoe-string catch in right field.

Then in the seventh, Amy Laughner led off the inning with a bunt that was misplayed, allowing her to reach. The same thing happened on a Juliana McClurkin bunt, putting runners on second and third with nobody out after a McClukin steal.

Nardone hit a chopper back to the mound and Laughner was cut down at the plate for the first out. Then Holonich hit a bullet to third base that was snared in the air by Everett. Heavy-hitter Taylor Stockinger grounded out to pitcher Julie Hance to end the threat.

“I figured our luck’s got to run out at some point,” Flannagan said. “You have a chance in the sixth inning, you have a chance in the seventh inning. It’s like, how many opportunities are you going to have?”

Gaithersburg seemed to deal the finishing blow in the top of the eighth when – with a runner starting on second base according to the rules – Everett drove home one run with a flair over second base. Then Devin O’Neil roped a single to right field to drive in Everett and make the score 4-2.

Sherwood was in trouble. Pitcher Erin McMakin – who went a complete game while striking out seven – grounded out to start the inning. But senior first baseman Jessie Karp followed with an RBI double for the first run. Second baseman Kat Correa then lined a grounder to the shortstop and it went right between her legs, allowing Karp to score to tie the game.

Up next was pinch-hitter Amy Abel. Abel came late to the game after a field trip and had to get dressed in the team’s shed. She hasn’t been a regular at all this season.

Abel chopped the first pitch into the dirt towards third. The throw sailed over the first baseman’s head, allowing Correa to fly around the bases for the winning run.

“I’m still shaking; I can barely stand up,” Abel said. “I think I’m going to throw up right now.”

“You just never give up because you never know,” Karp added. “We pulled it together on Wednesday. Did the same thing today. Got to do it again – we’ll just try not to make it so close next time.”