In a season full of wild and exciting games, the Marcellus softball team’s 11-10 victory over Skaneateles last Tuesday afternoon entered its own unique category. Here, the Mustangs rallied from a five-run deficit, only to squander that lead, then get it back at the very end. Immediately, Marcellus got into trouble, giving up four runs in the first inning. The deficit grew to 5-0 — but in the bottom of the fourth, the Mustangs batted around and didn’t stop until seven runs had crossed the plate. Jess Manahan, Sophie Jackson, Caitlin Henderson, Tabby McBride and Megan Witkowski had consecutive hits in that rally, with Jackson getting a second hit later in that frame and Molly MacLachlan also earning a hit. Two more runs in the sixth left Marcellus with a 9-5 edge going into the top of the seventh. But it could not close things out, as Skaneateles hit Molly MacLachlan for five runs and surged back in front, 10-9. Such a rally would demoralize most teams — but not the Mustangs.
Instead, Bailey Donovan singled, and MacLachlan’s hit brought home pinch-runner Courtney King to tie it, 10-10. Marcellus then won it when Kassie Lema’s single brought home MacLachlan. McBride went three-for-four, finishing with three RBIs. MacLachlan and Henderson each drove in two runs, with Manahan, Witkowski and Ellie Ryan joining Lema with single RBIs. Jackson also had three hits and scored a pair of runs. Marcellus began its last week of the season with a 10-1 loss to Phoenix, getting its lone run in the second inning (Jenna Rodolico earned the RBI) after the Firebirds assumed a 4-0 lead. Phoenix’s five runs in the fifth inning settled matters as MacLachlan took the loss. The Skaneateles win turned things around, though, and the momentum carried over into Wednesday’s 13-4 victory over Hannibal. A three-run second inning and four-run outburst in the third pushed the Mustangs to an 8-0 lead, and it tacked on four more runs in the fifth, just to be sure. McBride went four-for-five, scoring twice and earning an RBI. Jackson and Henderson each had three hits, with Jackson and Ryan earning two RBIs apiece and Lema scoring three runs. MacLachlan had two hits, scored twice and struck out eight in her complete-game pitching effort. And on Friday, Marcellus improved its mark to 8-11, beating Moravia 9-2 as it overcame an early 2-0 deficit with eight runs in the bottom of the second inning. MacLachlan (who struck out six and got the win), Lema and King each drove in two runs as Jackson doubled and Manahan scored a pair of runs. For the Class B playoffs, the Mustangs drew the no. 11 seed and must meet an OHSL Liberty rival, no. 6 seed Phoenix, in the opening round, with the winner to get Cazenovia or Lowville in the quarterfinal round.