MASSILLON — From where they’ve never been to where they’ve never gone — that’s the plight of the Wellington Dukes following Wednesday’s Division III regional softball semifinal at Genshaft Field.
Wellington had given up only one run in tournament play before Wednesday and never had to come from four runs down all season, but Saturday they’ll be playing for a spot in the state tournament for the first time in any sport in school history by virtue of their 11-5 victory over a young, talented Pymatuning Valley squad.
Wellington (21-4) found itself down 4-0 going into the bottom of the third inning — certainly a tall task on the softball diamond — but the Dukes put on a hitting clinic the rest of the way in cruising to the win.
Wellington erupted for 15 hits — including eight for extra bases — in earning a chance to play for the regional title Saturday at noon against the winner of today’s Youngstown Ursuline-Akron Manchester semifinal.
“We hadn’t given up runs — only one run in three (tournament) games,” said Wellington veteran coach Tom Roth, “so all of a sudden to be down four, wow.”
The Lakers did a little of everything in the third inning to jump in front. A walk and two sacrifice bunts botched by the usually reliable Dukes’ defense loaded the bases with no outs to set up Jen Tennant’s double to right-center that cleared the bases.
Tennant’s sister Amanda followed with a single to left to put runners on first and third and still no outs. Catcher Melissa Sawyer picked Jen Tennant leaning off third for one out, but pitcher Melanie Conklin hit the next batter and walked in a run on four pitches after fanning Lindsay Carr to spot the Lakers a 4-0 lead before retiring the side on a come-backer.
“She said she wasn’t feeling well and was a little light-headed,” Roth said of his senior ace. “We tried to get (Cassie) Gleisner warmed up but she was up to the plate so we had to go one more inning with (Conklin), but she knuckled down and did what she had to do.”
“I was a little light-headed,” Conklin said. “Everybody was down a little but I figured we’d score sometime. I was really proud of (my teammates).”
Callie McConnell got it started with a two-out triple in the bottom of the third and scored on the first of three Melissa Sawyer hits — including her first career home run.
“Putting one on the board just to show we could do it,” Roth said. “Everybody kind of relaxed a little bit. The merry-go-round started going. We needed that one to just open the eyes that we can do this.”
 “After we got those runs scored on us because of a couple mental errors,” said Sawyer, “it was nice to see everyone come out and hit. That’s how we usually do it.”
From that point, Wellington started pounding the ball.
In the field, Conklin retired the side in order after starting a double play by snagging a line drive and tossing to McConnell to get the Dukes right back up to bat. She then drew a one-out walk to start what would become a two-out, five-run rally.
Gleisner singled but Conklin was retired at third on Melissa Rennie’s fielder’s choice. McConnell then bounced a triple into right field that skipped into foul territory to pull the Dukes to within one run. Sawyer doubled down the third-base line to tie the game and Amy Rader singled off pitcher Celine Pollander’s glove. Christy King’s two-run double to the fence in left-center gave Wellington the lead for good at 6-4.
“I was a little nervous in the beginning,” McConnell said. “But I’m always confident.”
Sawyer started a five-run fifth inning with a long home run that easily cleared the fence in left. King hit her second double and Brittany Gow reached on an error. Brooke Lewis singled in two runs and Conklin brought home Lewis with a triple and scored Wellington’s 11th run on a wild pitch.
Pymatuning added the final run in the top of the seventh, but Conklin struck out Amber Pomeroy to end the game.
“I knew we would hit the ball,” Roth said, “but (Pymatuning) was playing tough defense. At first, things we were hitting, they were grabbing. Some nights, you hit those “at ’em” balls. It was nice to see some of those finally sneak in the holes. Callie had that one that hit and spun off.
“We talked about that we’ve been here before, now we have a chance to do something that hasn’t been done. That was our goal, now hopefully, we can move on.”
Contact Tim Gebhardt at 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.

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