Celina squeezes out win over Wapakoneta

BATH TOWNSHIP - Celina coach Nicole Driggs didn't call a suicide squeeze, just a regular, old bunt.

No matter what you call it, the play worked.

Freshman Christine Thobe laid down a picture perfect bunt and allowed Allison Braun to score from third. It was the first of two runs in the fourth during Celina's 2-0 win over Wapakoneta in a Division II softball sectional semifinal.

The Bulldogs moved on to face the winner of Wednesday's Bath-Elida game in a Division II sectional final at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Bath.

"I had to squeak a run by them. We had to have a total team effort to do that," Driggs said. "When you feel that confidence in your girls and determination, as a coach, all I'm doing is making the signals. They're making it happen."

Braun led off the fourth with a double down the right field line. She advanced to third on Kinzie Gardner's fielder's choice. Gardner, who was safe on the play, scored on Samantha Bertke's two-out single.

"What a great coaching call by Nicole, with two strikes having the suicide squeeze," Wapakoneta coach Bill Sammons said. "They had two strikes on them and I never thought they would do that. We bailed out and they had a great call.

"They executed, they got the play done. That's what you do in tournament play."

The Bulldogs (16-2) got half of their six hits in the fourth. Braun had three hits, including a double in the first and a single in the sixth.

Laura Homan pitched the win. The senior went seven innings, giving up just two hits while striking out nine and walking none.

While Homan admitted it wasn't her best outing, the defense saved the day. Five outs were recorded on grounders to the left side of the infield.

"I believe in them all way. I know they're going to back me up," Homan said. "I was glad they made all of the plays."

Driggs said, "You know what, she wasn't 100 percent today. She knows that, and she'll tell you that. But I love that because it tells me she has more."

Wapakoneta freshman pitcher Emily Whetstone threw six innings, yielding no walks while fanning six batters. Six outs were recorded on ground balls while three other apparent hits were taken away with solid defense.

At the top of the Wapakoneta order, sophomore Erika Bryan had both hits with singles in the first and sixth.

"I don't feel bad at all about my young team," Sammons said. "We went down fighting. We were clawing, scratching all along the way."

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