By Kyle LoJacono
and Jeff Odom
The Freedom softball team will play in the postseason for the first time in the program’s 11-year history April 24 at Countryside at 4 p.m. after finishing as the Class 7A-District 9 runner-up.
The No. 2 seed Patriots (18-3) also enter the playoffs with the most wins in program history, but came up just short of their first district title, falling 4-2 to top-seeded Chamberlain (20-8) in the 7A-9 final April 18.
“Definitely a tough loss,” said Freedom coach Autum Hernandez. “Chamberlain is a great team. They have a great coach (Bob Diez) and a great pitcher (Rachel Dwyer). If we come out flat they’re going to take advantage, and that’s what happened to us tonight.”
The Chiefs, who also won the district last year, scored in the first inning with a single, infield error and Jenna Brownell’s sacrifice fly. The defending 7A state champs added a run in the fourth and two in the fifth to go ahead 4-0.
Freedom put up a pair of runs in the sixth, but did so without getting a hit thanks to two infield errors, a walk, a hit-by-pitch and two sacrifice bunts. The Patriots, who entered the contest averaging 8.4 runs, had only one hit, a single by junior left fielder Ashley Wilson in the third.
“It seems like we’re just struggling as a team,” Hernandez said. “We’re not adjusting to what the pitcher is throwing. We’re letting the first strike go by, and it’s the best pitch we see the whole at bat, so we’re not making good decisions there. That’s something we’ll definitely talk about.”
Hernandez said she is proud of her squad even though they were unable to win districts.
“They all work hard every day, and they definitely deserve to be in the playoffs,” Hernandez said. “They worked hard and competed all season. We talked all year about doing something for the first time, so we’re proud in that aspect. We’re not happy with tonight, but we’re proud that we’re moving on.”
Freedom avoided an upset against No. 3 Steinbrenner in the semifinals, prevailing 2-1 April 17 to clinch a playoff berth.
The win gave the Patriots some matter of payback over the Warriors (16-14), who beat Freedom in last season’s district semifinals.
“It’s hard to beat a good team three times, and we knew coming in that it was going to be close,” Hernandez said. “I’m just proud because it was a good team win, and we played really good defense.”
Steinbrenner opened the scoring with a run in the fifth inning, which was the first the Warriors had scored against Freedom all season.
Alia Serafini reached on a walk by Patriots pitcher Grace Street to open the frame and moved to second on Kellee Ramsey’s sacrifice bunt. Paige Cimino singled to left field to give the Warriors the 1-0 lead.
The Patriots capitalized on back-to-back Warriors’ fielding errors in the bottom of the frame to take a 2-1 lead.
Wilson got aboard via an infield single with one out and moved to second base on an errant throw to first by Warriors shortstop Erica Serafini. Wilson stole third and came around to tie the score after Rachel Carlson reached on an error.
Freshman catcher Maddy Hall followed with an RBI single to center field to plate Carlson and give her squad the lead for good.
Freedom’s pitching finished the job.
Street, who struck out two and walked two in five innings, was relieved by senior Kaitlin Hall in the top of the sixth, who gave up just one hit and struck out three to slam the door.
“I’m on Cloud 9 right now; it’s awesome,” Kaitlin said. “It feels great to be a part of a softball team like this, and I don’t feel like we’re a team, but a family, when we play out here.”
Street echoed her teammate, adding that the win proved how good the team is.
“I think it showed our ability to fight back even when we’re in a down place,” Street said. “We all came together and started hitting the ball, and they picked me up whenever I was down.”
