After jumping out to a commanding early lead over rival Sunapee Thursday afternoon, the Wilton-Lyndeborough softball team faced one obstacle after another as the Lakers battled back and forced extra innings.

But the Warriors never said die and ended the rivalry game with a 19-18 extra-inning walkoff win.

“We just never gave up and we had our heads held high,” said senior shortstop Bri Fish, who scored the winning run on a grounder hit to the right side by Kelsey Crouse. “None of us ever had our heads down, our attitudes were amazing this game, and I’m really proud of everyone on our team.”

In the absence of injured senior Abby Dowling, Fish is leading the Warriors on the diamond, and her aggressive approach on the basepaths gave WLC the edge Thursday afternoon, as she stole six bases, scored five runs and hit a triple.

With Delaney Dowling on the mound, the Warriors got out to an 11-6 lead after two innings, despite some control issues, and for much of the game it looked like WLC was threatening to run-rule the visiting Lakers. Leading 15-5 after the fourth, the Warriors lost the services of their starting centerfielder to AAU basketball practice; already down several players due to injury and school vacation, they were forced to take the field with eight players, and the Lakers promptly took advantage, whacking the ball into the new outfield gap and battling back to cut it to 15-13.

Ryleigh Smith took over on the mound to settle things down, but a four-run sixth put Sunapee 18-16, and it would have been easy for the Warriors to give up and go home. 

“They know from previous games before that if they just keep chugging along, things can happen, but if they give up that’s the end of it,” said head coach Scott Dowling. “And this team’s got no give-up in them.”

WLC scored on the Fish triple and a Crouse single in the sixth and then again on an Ella Morris walk and a Naomi Bozarth triple in the seventh to stay alive for extras. Smith got the side in order in the eighth and set the table for the walkoff. With Fish on second, Crouse grounded to the right side; when the senior shortstop saw the Sunapee misplay, she just kept on coming, touching the plate and leaping up in celebration.

“I was so excited,” Fish said. “It was amazing. I was so proud of Kelsey, she hit the ball right where she needed to and they made a mistake that got me home. That felt so good to finally end the game with a W.”

WLC (4-2) has been ending plenty of games with Ws recently. They’re averaging 19 runs per game after averaging 8.3 and winning just four games all of last season. Right now, they’re sixth in Division IV, just behind Mascenic (5-2).

“They’re focused, they’re keeping it together, they’re urging each other to continue, they’re picking each other up – I could not be happier with this group right now,” coach Dowling said. “By the end of the year, if the girls keep this mentality, it’s going to be a fun team to watch for sure.”

The Warriors are scheduled to have a doubleheader at Newmarket on Monday and are at Hinsdale Wednesday. 

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