Wildcats Come Back, Advance to Lakes Region Finals

Down 6-1 in the fourth inning, the Wildcats rallied for a 9-6 victory over New Hampton on Wednesday in the semi-finals of the Lakes Region playoffs. After New Hampton chipped away offensively, taking a five-run lead into the bottom of the fourth, the Wildcats' bats heated up. Singles by Audrey Donahue and Lyndsey Patten started the rally and Emma Lapsley batted in both runners with a two-out double to the fence. Adi Runge followed with a single and Lulu Leppard walked to load the bases, bringing up senior captain Shannon Moran. With one swing of the bat, Moran sent the ball to the right-centerfield fence, clearing the bases and tying the game. The game remained tied until the sixth, when Lulu Leppard singled and Moran hit her second double in a row to score the go-ahead run. Michaela Cokinos followed with a double of her own, scoring Moran. Margaret Herlihy singled to keep the rally going, scoring Cokinos and giving the Wildcats a three-run lead. Pitcher Adi Runge and the KUA defense, anchored by Misora Hashiramoto behind the plate, did the rest, retiring the next six New Hampton batters in succession. Up next for the Wildcats is the Lakes Region Championship game this Friday at Tilton.