Tina Ubl is greeted by her teammates at home plate, following her 8th inning, walk-off homer
It took extra innings, but the Shiocton softball team topped CWC-8 leading Weyauwega-Fremont at home in walk-off fashion on Tuesday.
In the eighth inning, following a one-out single by Sydney Wilcox, Tina Ubl blasted a 2-run home run to left field that gave the Chiefs their sixth win in a row, and the season split with their conference foe.
“I just saw Syd [Wilcox] get on base and thought it was my time to shine, I just need to get a hit,” Ubl said during a post-game interview. “I just wanted a base hit so I could advance her, but then it just went over the fence. It was unbelievable.”
The win pulls Shiocton to within a half-game of Weyauwega-Fremont. Head coach Dave Wilcox said after the game that he was proud of how his team battled to at least give themselves an opportunity to win it in extras.
“It just shows that it is a team effort,” Wilcox said following the win. “When you go down a run against a team like that, it feels like you’re down seven. Quite honestly, I was just happy to get the game back to even. We battle with this team every year, but it is nice to come out on top. It’s been a while.”
Weyauwega-Fremont struck first in the fourth inning, after Sydney Wilcox issued a lead-off walk to Genna Knorr, who would come around to score on a passed ball.
In the fifth inning, Shiocton would answer with a run of their own. Weyauwega-Fremont pitcher, Kiley Akey, would limit the damage and escape a bases loaded jam.
Both pitchers had impressive showings, but it was Sydney Wilcox besting Akey this time out. Wilcox pitched all eight innings for Shiocton, striking out 12 to earn the win.
Coach Wilcox said he was happy with not only how Sydney had pitched, but how she was able to focus in the batter’s box by providing a spark for the Shiocton offense.
“It was nice because she was in a spot a couple innings earlier with the bases loaded and probably swung at a pitch that she would like to have back, with no count on her. Of course, being her dad and the coach I let her know about that,” coach Wilcox laughed. “She lost a game to them just like this two years ago, on a walk-off home run. I know [today] had to feel good.”
Wilcox would go 2-for-4 at the plate with a run scored. Ubl finished 1-for-4 with a home run and two runs driven in.