Final Inning Determines Avon Lake Minor League Championship

The game came down to one final inning, one final at bat, one final run.

But when the dust cleared, it was the Indians besting the Blue Jays 5-to-4, to win the Avon Lake Girl’s Minor League Championship July 31 at

It was a true classic in the league of 8, 9 and 10–year-olds.

The Blue Jays took a 4-to-1 lead in the top of the 4^th inning when Sam Gregovits scored on back-to-back singles by Kate Kastelic and Paris Mather. The Indians scored a run in the bottom of the 5^th inning thanks to three straight hits by Arianna Castaneda, Olivia Minnich and Lindsay Yurick. Still, the Indians trailed the Blue Jays 4-to-2 heading into the game’s final inning and the Indians final at bat.

With one out and the bases loaded, MacKenzie Grove hit a clutch line drive single down the left field line to score Madison Olinger and Klare Smith to tie the game at 4-to-4. Two batters later, Elise Nelson drew a bases loaded walk and Maggie Jantz trotted home with the game winning run to cap a 5-to-4 comeback and claim the Girls Minors title.

The championship game was a showcase of two great pitching performances. The 8-year-old Jantz pitched a complete game for the Indians and struck out 9 batters. Ten-year-old Allison Lazor pitched all six innings for the Blue Jays and struck out nine batters.

“To watch two girls, Maggie and Allison, pitch as well as they did was really a lot of fun. Both girls were locked in and it was a pleasure to witness. Plus, I loved the way both teams never quit,” Indians Manager Ron Jantz said.

Blue Jays manager Ken Mather was also impressed.

“Both teams played so well,” Mather said. “To see a championship game go six competitive innings with a 5-4 decision was a thrill for all the girls involved.”

Indians team members are Sam Brenner, Castaneda, Grove, Jantz, Carter Kallach, Minnich, Nelson, Olinger, Smith, Liz Thieken, Jenna Wolverton and Lindsay Yurick.

Blue Jays team members include Nicole Butch, Erin Gallagher, Gregovits, Kendra Hards, Kastelic, Ellen Lavelle, Katie Lavelle, Lazor, Mather and Natalie Sekerak.