Cherokee comeback tops Washington Twp.

Maybe tonight's senior prom will help them to forget.

Washington Township let a big fish off the hook yesterday in an Olympic Conference American Division softball game at Cherokee.

And like a big fish, Cherokee, ranked fourth by The Inquirer, took advantage of the opportunity and earned a come-from-behind 4-2 win.

Township's misfortune and Cherokee's fortune surfaced in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Minutemaids (8-6 overall, 4-2 division) had a 2-0 lead, and everything appeared to be going well for pitcher Alissa Schoelkopf and her teammates.

However, two Township errors, an RBI single and four walks led to four runs, and that was all the Chiefs (12-1, 4-0) needed for a reversal of fortune.

"We were down two, I decided to focus and put the ball in play and I found a hole," said senior shortstop Lexi Tejada, who knocked in Nicole Chabak with the second run of the inning.

Sophomore Gina McCool scored the first run on an error at the plate. Schoelkopf walked home Sam Rossi - running for Gina Carassi - and Tejada with the bases loaded for the final two runs.

The game-changing inning started when McCool chipped a blooper high above the mound. Senior first baseman Shannon Hutchinson joined Schoelkopf with a raised glove at the mound, and the ball bounced off Hutchinson's mitt and onto the ground. McCool was safe at first base.

Washington Township scored twice in the top of the third inning when Hutchinson slammed a double to center field that scored Colleen Varallo. Senior Maggie Brace smacked a single that scored Hutchinson.

Township coach Tracy Burkhart said that the team appeared to panic after the error at the mound in the sixth inning.

"And there was no reason to panic," Burkhart said. "Two runs against a team like Cherokee really isn't a good lead for us. Cherokee will fight to the end. We are thinking too much at the plate."

"I guess we got lucky and came up big when we needed," said winning pitcher Christine Watson.

Washington Township 002 000 0 - 2 9 2

Cherokee 000 004 x - 4 3 1

WP: Christine Watson. LP: Alissa Schoelkopf.

2B: WT–Shannon Hutchinson.