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By Todd Irwin
sports@altoonamirror.com
PATTON -- As Cambria Heights No. 3 hitter Lexi Griak was batting in the fifth inning of the District 6 Class 3A softball quarterfinal against Forest Hills, her teammates were yelling for "Big Country" to get a hit.
"It's just because of this one song called 'Loud Heavy Rain,'" Griak said when asked about the nickname. "I always just sing and dance to it, and it's just a memory we have."
Griak, a junior first baseman, created more memories on Monday when she walloped a three-run home run over the left-center field fence in the fifth inning.
Griak, who had three hits, was key in helping the third-seeded and defending district champions' 14-hit attack of a 12-2, six-inning win over sixth-seeded Forest Hills at home.
"She's one of our leaders," Heights coach Drew Thomas said. "She does a very good job of hitting the ball hard. Even when she makes outs, she hits the ball hard. I have confidence in everyone."
The win advanced Heights into the semifinals, where it will play at second-seeded Westmont Hilltop at 4 p.m. Thursday. Westmont Hilltop beat seventh-seeded River Valley, 11-1, in five innings on Monday.
"I think it's going to be more of a competition," Griak said, "but I think we can handle it. I have a good feeling we can make it far."
No. 2 hitter Karli Storm and No. 5 hitter Maddie Bender also collected three hits for the Lady Highlanders (17-1). Jenna Serafin had two hits, as did Kadence DellaValle, who came off the bench to get hers.
Forest Hills (13-6) held a 2-1 lead going into the bottom of the third thanks to Mylee Gdula hitting two solo home runs off of Serafin in back-to-back innings.
"I had no doubt that we weren't going to pull through," Griak said. "I knew we had a good run at this. I was a little nervous at first, but I knew that we could come back."
The floodgates opened in the bottom of the third as the Lady Highlanders scored five runs, sent 11 batters to the plate and forced two pitching changes -- all with two outs.
After starting pitcher Josie Makin induced the first two outs, Storm and Griak singled, Storm scored on an error. The Lady Rangers committed three errors in the inning and six in the game, and only one of Heights' 12 runs was earned.
"It was not one of our best games we played today," Forest Hills coach Krista Hershberger said. "I think a little bit of nerves got the best of us."
Consecutive singles by Bender and Serafin chased two more runs home.
Another run scored on an error. Heights worked three walks off reliever Anna Spangler, with Karin Adams getting the third with the bases loaded.
"That's happened a couple times," Thomas said of the two-out production. "I think that's a sign of a mature team. We never give up, and we keep battling."
Heights scored four more in the fifth, with Griak's three-run shot being the highlight.
"It was great. It was a good feeling," she said after hitting here fourth home run of the season. "I've been in a slump for awhile, and it felt good to get right out of it.
The Lady Rangers managed to get 10 hits against Serafin, but she worked out of jams. Her defense helped out as third-baseman Bender and shortstop Storm gloved line drives for the third out of the second and third, respectively.
The Lady Highlanders scored three more in the sixth, with Storm putting the 10-run rule into effect with a single to plate DellaValle with the 12th run with two outs in the sixth.
"They're a good ball team," Hershberger said of Heights. "I think they're going to go far this season. They have a lot of big hitters, and they make the plays."
FOREST HILLS (2): Smiach 3b-p 400, K. Beyer 2b 301, Hoover cf 301, Gdula c 322, Emerick ss 301, Spangler 1b-p 301, Makin p-1b-3b 301, G. Beyer rf 202, Charney lf 301. Totals: 27-2-10.
CAMBRIA HEIGHTS (12): White cf 500, Storm ss 523, Griak 1b 423, Rogal dp 410, M. Bender 3b 423, Serafin p 302, DellaValle cr-lf 232, Mezzelo ph 100, Kinney rf 311, Zeglen pr 000, E. Bender 2b 310, Adams lf 100, Bernecky c 000. Totals: 35-12-14-8.
SCORE BY INNINGS
Forest Hills 011 000--2 10 6
Cambria Heights 005 043--12 14 2
Errors--K. Beyer 2, Emerick 2, Makin, G. Beyer; Storm, Serafin. 2B--M. Bender HR--Gdula 2. RBIs--Gdula 2; Griak 3, Storm, M. Bender, Serafin, Kinney, Adams. SAC--G. Beyer. SB--DellaValle. LOB--Forest Hills 8, Cambria Heights 9.
PITCHING
Forest Hills: Makin (L)--2 2/3 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO; Spangler 0 IP (pitched to 3 batters in third), 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 0 SO; Smiach 3 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO.
Cambria Heights: Serafin (W)--6 IP, 10 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO.
Records: Forest Hills (13-6); Cambria Heights (17-1)