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Diehl’s big day helps Ridge overtake Everett

EVERETT — The last time Chestnut Ridge faced Everett on the softball diamond, Ridge’s Kayla Diehl was 0-for-4 at the plate.

Diehl more than redeemed herself in a rematch on Tuesday.

The Lady Lions’ sophomore pitcher went 4-for-5 with four RBIs — hitting a go-ahead home run in the top of the sixth inning — to power visiting Ridge to a 10-8 victory over Everett in the District 5-8-9 Class 3A semifinals.

Once trailing 6-1, Chestnut Ridge came back, and it was a tie game when the diminutive Diehl launched a Jacie Martin offering over the fence in center field to give the Lady Lions an 8-7 advantage. Lydia Mock’s triple later in the inning plated what turned out to be the winning run.

It was the second homer of the season for Diehl.

“It just felt good to hit it,” Diehl said. “I was just looking for anything close to the plate to hit it anywhere.”

Ridge had dropped two regular-season meetings with the Lady Warriors. The Lady Lions improved to 14-7 and will face Karns City in the subregional final at Windber on May 31 or June 1.

“I guess the third time was the charm,” Ridge coach Chuck Corle said. “It wasn’t a pitchers’ duel. (Martin) struck out 19 in two games against us. We just worked on (bat) speed. We just watched the strike zone, and, if it was in the zone, we were getting hits.”

It paid off. The Lady Lions amassed 12 hits. Niki Shank was 3-for-5, while Mock went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs.

Everett led 6-1 after scoring six times in the bottom of the second. Kecia Cogan went 4-for-4 for the Lady Warriors, Sydney Reffner was 2-for-5 with two RBIs, and Alex Iseminger and Kayla Lee both were 2-for-4.

However, after Everett’s early rally, Ridge came back with six runs of its own in the top of the third. The Lady Warriors knotted the contest at 7 with a solo run in the third.

“I think our young kids’ nerves got the best of us early in the game. Heartbreaker for us” said Everett coach Jackie Levy, who had five first-year starters, including two freshmen. “They weren’t used to playoff time.”

Diehl, however, was able to overcome her jitters. She held Everett to one run over the last four innings.

“I was a little nervous coming in (to the game), but as it started, I started to relax more. I felt I needed to do it for my team,” Diehl said. “The team was really pumped up. We came ready to play.”

Corle said the Lady Lions’ ability to bounce back showed the heart of his team. He also said not to be deceived by Diehl’s size.

“She always has power. She’s little, but she makes great contact,” Corle said.

Everett finished the season 16-4. The Lady Warriors only graduate four seniors: Cogan, Cammie Jenkins, Amber Rush and Sarah Wils, and only Cogan and Jenkins played on Tuesday.

“The season was a great success for us,” Levy said. “Phenomenal group of girls.”

CHESTNUT RIDGE (10): Shank 2b 523, Weyant ss 301, Diehl p 524, Milliron 1b 511, Whysong cf 400, Diehl rf 221, Mock lf 312, Dunlap 3b 210, Baney dp 200, Gibbner pr 010, Hailey Oldham c (flex) 000. Totals–31-10-12.

EVERETT (8): Reffner ss 512, Ewing 2b 410, Colledge cf, 411, Iseminger 3b 402, Cogan 1b 414, Hicks dp 410, Martin p 400, Lee c 422, Ewing rf 411, Jenkins lf (flex) 000. Totals–37-8-12.

SCORE BY INNINGS

Chestnut Ridge 106 002 1–10 12 3

Everett 061 001 0– 8 12 2

2B–Cogan. 3B–Mock, Reffner. HR–K. Diehl. RBI–K. Diehl 4, Mock 2, Baney, Reffner 2, Iseminger, Cogan, Ewing. WP–K. Diehl. LP–Martin.

Records: Chestnut Ridge (14-7); Everett (16-4).

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