By By TOM NYHUIS / Niles Daily Star
BRONSON – Prior to the start of Saturday's regional semifinal softball game at Bronson High School Buchanan coach Mike Welsh felt good about his team's chances of advancing to the championship game.
The Lady Bucks were taking on host Bronson for the right to go up against Galesburg-Augusta, a 9-0 winner over Watervliet in the day's first semifinal game.
That opportunity never came for the Lady Bucks as they dropped a 5-1 decision to the Vikings. Bronson broke a 1-1 tie in the fifth pushing four runs across the plate and the Bucks were never able to make a run at the lead.
The Bucks scored their only run of the day in the fourth to tie the game after junior Jayme O'Bryant hit a one-out triple to the left field fence and scored on a pass ball. Buchanan collected a single by Rachel Briggs in the fifth and a lead off single in the sixth by Emily Ross. The final five Buchanan batters were struck out by winning pitcher Rachel Wisman to close out the game.
Bronson scored the four runs in the fourth as Alexis Lenox battled control problems throughout the game.
"She (Lenox) wasn't sharp at all today," a disappointed Welsh said following the loss. "She put herself in trouble all day and we were lucky it wasn't five six nothing early. When your not playing well and you tie it at one she needs to go out and slam the gosh dang door. She just wasn't sharp all day and that is just flirting with disaster."
A lead off walk followed with another walk after getting an out set the plate for Bronson as they followed up the pair of walks with three singles for the four runs.
Buchanan finishes their season with a 24-14 record after making their third consecutive trip to the regionals.
"That is a heck of a ball club over there, they (Bronson) have a good team and have some hitters, fundamentally sound and well coached and there is no shame in losing to Bronson. We just didn't play our best ball today at all," Welsh said.
Lenox finished the game giving up 10 hits, all singles, walking three and striking out four.
Buchanan loses four seniors from this year's squad, Emily Ross, Kayla Nelson, Destyni Dolan and Taylor Krumrie.
"These seniors have won three districts and been to the final four. In my 19 years of coaching we had won two districts in a row but never three so I've never had a class that has accomplished what this class has. They have nothing to be ashamed of. Those four kids, we sure are going to miss them, but we plan on being back next year," an emotional Welsh said.
Division 3 Softball Regional
At Bronson High School
Semifinals
Bronson 000 140 0 – 5 10 0
Buchanan 000 100 0 – 1 3 1
WP – Rachel Wisman (BR) and Sarah Belote
LP – Alexis Lenox (BU, 21-9) and Emily Ross
3B: Jayme O'Bryant (BU)
Records
Buchanan 24-14, Bronson 31-6