Late hit hurts South Range in 5-3 loss to Liberty Union in state softball championship game
Liberty Union catcher Emilyn Kanet hasn’t had an at-bat since the team’s district tournament.
But Shaun Hochradel said he had a hunch and sent her up in a key moment with the bases loaded and one out in the fifth inning.
His hunch paid off.
Kanet singled off the right-field wall, which sent Liberty Union to a 5-3 win over South Range in the Division III state softball final.
“it stinks,” South Range head coach Jeff DeRose said. “We had such a fantastic season this year and honestly didn’t expect to lose today. We watched them play Thursday and and it’s certainly not the best team we’ve played. We usually average 10 runs a game and today we put up a three spot against an average pitcher compared to what we’ve seen.”
The Raiders gave up 11 walks in the game and hit another batter.
“We have up too many free passes,” DeRose said.
South Range took an early lead on a throwing error in the fourth inning. Payton Hochradel answered for Liberty Union on a run-scoring single.
The Raiders retook the lead at 2-1 on an Anna Aey single before Kanet’s hit.
Solena DeJesus led South Range with three hits, while Anna Aey added two hits for the Raiders.