Walk-off home run propels Perrysburg softball past Springfield in district final

CLYDE, Ohio — Hitting a walk-off home run to win a game is what players dream of.

For Perrysburg's Jessica Miller, it became reality Friday.

With Springfield surging to tie the game late, Miller took advantage of a pitch over the plate, slamming a solo shot over the left-field fence, lifting second-seeded Perrysburg to a 9-8 Division I district championship over the third-seeded Blue Devils at Joe Wilson Field at Clyde High School.

"I was really hoping to hit a line drive just to get on base," Miller said. "A walk is a walk. I was going to be on base and I knew at some point, I was going to be that winning run."

The Yellow Jackets improved to 24-4 and will face North Ridgeville (17-5) in a regional semifinal at 5 p.m. Wednesday back at Clyde High School.

"Obviously with Jess up at the plate, we know she's got power and knew that was a possibility," Perrysburg coach Ryan DeMars said. "I was really happy to see good, solid contact come off the bat."

Perrysburg lost in the district finals each of the past three years, including the past two against Springfield.

"It feels great, not only for me because I've been around forever and in these situations, but this group of kids and seniors, they haven't had that opportunity," DeMars said. "They've been in the game and given opportunities to be in the game, but we've come up short in the past.

"Being able to come out and get a win and a championship, especially against a team like Springfield, is just awesome."

Neither team generated anything in the seventh inning, and Perrysburg reliever Maddie Von Sacken retired the side in order in the eighth inning to give the Yellow Jackets a chance.

Miller was up first and worked the count full against Springfield pitcher Callee Chappetta. On the payoff pitch, Miller roped the ball up and over the fence — just inside the foul pole — to send Perrysburg into hysteria.

"She's a great hitter," Springfield coach Rob Gwozdz said. "We tried to stay inside on her. We didn't want her to extend her arms. She's a great kid and a great player. She got us.

"That's what big-time players do."

It was the Yellow Jackets who were in control, scoring seven runs across the third and fourth innings to surge ahead 8-2.

Springfield, however, kept fighting.

In the fifth, Cam Hall reached on a bunt before Chappetta also singled. Perrysburg starter Maison Gerrard bounced back to get the next two batters on infield popouts, but Kenya Crowley smacked a two-run double.

Olivia Rompf followed and didn't wait long as she clocked the first pitch from Gerrard over the fence to suddenly slice the Yellow Jackets' lead to 8-6.

"The one thing we've done all year is hit," Gwozdz said. "We had a couple more home runs today to add to our school record. I guess our experience showed. Six of those kids played in the state championship game as freshmen two years ago. I think the helped us get back in the game."

Von Sacken came on in relief and got out of the inning, but Springfield kept coming. Hall singled with one out before stealing second and moving to third on a groundout. She then scored when Ava Litten reached on an error.

Litten took second on the play and scored when Cam Eckhart tallied her second run-scoring single of the day. That tied the game at 8.

"We're all about hitting and trying to put hits together," DeMars said. "That's the thing about this team. They're able to score in bunches. If we get an opening, we can attack that."