By finishing with a 1-1 record in this season’s region softball tournament, the Yorktown Patriots accomplished something old — and something new.
The “new” was winning an opening-round region game for the first time since 2018 and reaching the semifinals for the first time in program history. Host Yorktown nipped the South Lakes Seahawks, 7-6, in that opening region contest.
The “old” was being eliminated once again by the host and eight-time state champion Madison Warhawks, this year in the semifinals of the girls 6D North Region high-school event by a 16-6 score in five innings.
Madison also had defeated Yorktown in first-round region contests each of the past three years, all in Vienna.
With the loss to Madison, Yorktown finished the season with a 13-12 overall record, was the runner-up in the Liberty District tournament for the first time and won six of its final eight games. The two losses during that late-season run came in the district-championship game and the region semifinals.
In the semifinal loss to Madison, Yorktown took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Madison loaded the bases with three walks, followed by an infield throwing error that scored two runs.
McKenna Gurgo then added a sacrifice fly. Madison answered with four runs on six hits and a walk, sending 10 hitters to the plate in the bottom of the frame to take the lead for good.
The Warhawks scored in every inning, amassed 15 hits and were helped by five walks and a hit batter.
Yorktown had five hits. Audrey Pocrass had the biggest hit with a two-run homer and Noa Kammerman and Sara Evans doubled. Kaiya Ovando and Malena Cardinale singled. Pocrass made three nice defensive plays at shortstop.
In the region win over South Lakes, Yorktown took a 2-0 lead, rallied from a 4-2 deficit by scoring five runs in the fifth inning, then held on in the final inning. South Lakes had a runner on second when a groundout ended the game.
Ovando had a sacrifice fly, a two-run double and walked. Sophia Giambalvo singled and doubled, Margaret Flannery-Goodman had a two-run triple, Kassen Foreman and Pocrass (two hits) singled and Kammerman had a sacrifice bunt.
Samantha Parker started and pitched five innings to get the win and Lilah Grace Kresse worked the final two frames.
Prior to this season, Yorktown’s last first-round win in a region tournament came in 2018 when the Patriots defeated Osbourn Park, 3-1.
With the loss to Madison, Yorktown finished the season with a 13-12 overall record, was the runner-up in the Liberty District tournament for the first time and won six of its final eight games. The two losses came in the district championship game and the region semifinals.
In the semifinal loss to Madison, Yorktown took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Madison loaded the bases with three walks, followed by an infield throwing error that scored two runs. McKenna Gurgo then added a sacrifice fly.
Madison answered with four runs on six hits and a walk, sending 10 hitters to the plate in the bottom of the frame to take the lead for good.
The Warhawks scored in every inning, amassed 15 hits and were helped by five walks and a hit batter.
Yorktown had five hits. Audrey Pocrass had the biggest hit with a two-run homer and Noa Kammerman and Sara Evans doubled. Kaiya Ovando and Malena Cardinale singled. Pocrass made three nice defensive plays at shortstop.
In the region win over South Lakes, Yorktown took a 2-0 lead, rallied from a 4-2 deficit by scoring five runs in the fifth inning, then held on in the final inning. South Lakes had a runner on second when a groundout ended the game.
Ovando had a sacrifice fly, a two-run double and walked. Sophia Giambalvo singled and doubled, Margaret Flannery-Goodman had a two-run triple, Kassen Foreman and Pocrass (two hits) singled and Kammerman had a sacrifice bunt.
Samantha Parker started and pitched five innings to get the win. Lilah Grace Kresse worked the final two frames.
Prior to this season, Yorktown’s last first-round win in a region tournament came in 2018, when the Patriots defeated Osbourn Park, 3-1.
Yorktown’s softball program is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
