SPORTS

Fairfield Union falls short of state tournament

Kurt Snyder
Reporter
  • Fairfield Union was playing in the first regional final in program history.

PICKERINGTON – Averi Callicoate still is having trouble believing what she and her Fairfield Union teammates accomplished this season.

"It seemed unreal almost," the junior first baseman said. "It didn't seem real that we made it this far and that we were one win away from state."

The Falcons' best postseason run in program history came to an end Saturday at the hands of a perennial power. Fairfield Union fell 5-0 to Lakewood in a Division II regional final at Pickerington Central.

Under first-year coach Don Holbrook, Fairfield Union (16-5) beat Dover 2-0 on Wednesday for the program's first semifinal win. The Falcons lost semifinals in 2012 and '13.

"They have played so well. I can't say enough about them," Holbrook said. "They have bought in to each other and played so well together. Before they knew it, it was just happening."

Fairfield Union's run had been powered by an opportunistic offense and near-flawless defense, and the Lancers instead got those things Saturday. Lakewood (31-1) scored single runs in five of the seven innings, giving plenty of cushion to sophomore right-hander Courtney Vierstra, who threw a two-hit shutout.

The Falcons put two runners on base in two innings. A popup, however, turned into a double play to end the first inning, and Lakewood third baseman Bailey Brownfield threw home on a bouncer to retire a runner at the plate in the fourth.

"We were prepped for (Vierstra) to throw us a rise ball on bunt attempts, and she threw us the two change-ups," Holbrook said. "That really threw us off there. ... That's our game: Get a runner in scoring position and get her around any way. They just neutralized that."

Senior right-hander Kirklynn Rossiter fought as she has done throughout her career. Lakewood opened the game with a double and a single, but the Lancers scored just a single run on a passed ball as Rossiter retired the Nos. 3 through 5 hitters on a line drive, strikeout and popup.

"We put out a fire there," Holbrook said. "I was blinking and hoping it was just a nightmare, but (Rossiter) ended up battling back."

Rossiter allowed five hits and two earned runs in 4 1/3 innings. Sophomore Alexis Eaton, as she has done throughout the tournament, relieved and allowed four hits and two runs in 2 2/3 innings. The duo struck out three apiece.

Michaela Criner and Eaton each singled for the Falcons.

For the Falcons to be successful, Holbrook needed his veterans to give him a chance. They did that and led the team on a ground-breaking path.

"I had to sell it to them first," Holbrook said. "They believed in what I was doing and what I was saying and the style of play we had. They led from the first pitch of the year. They said, 'OK, we will do it your way.' The younger ones just fell in line, and before you know it, it became the nature of our team."

"(Holbrook) gave us the energy to play hard," Callicoate said. "He knew that we could do it, so we knew that we could do it."

ksnyder@gannett.com

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Twitter: @newarkurt