Opportunistic Laney advances in 4A softball

With Friday's 9-2 victory over Greenville Rose, the Bucs get another shot at erasing that streak. This group doesn't hit the ball the farthest, or throw it the fastest, but Fisk likes his chances of breaking through more than ever.

"They have this year been able to regroup quickly," he said. "And I think that's due to being tightly woven together as a team. They play well as a team. And I think they pick each other up well."

The Bucs (20-2) had plenty of opportunities to make amends against the Rampants (16-9). Star pitcher Lacey Wildeboer didn't look completely comfortable on the mound, and the Bucs made a pair of errors. But each time a play needed to be made, someone stepped up.

Rose got an unearned run in the first; Laney responded with a two-out RBI single by No. 8 hitter Abbie Wagner to tie it in the second.

Wildeboer made an error to put two on and nobody out in the fifth, then snagged a line drive for a double play that limited the damage to one run.

Shortstop Shatara Jackson quickly gobbled up a liner off Wildeboer's glove for the rare 1-6-3 putout in the sixth.

"We're very resilient," catcher Nikki Lynch said. "We just kinda shake it off. ... Encourage them to make the play the next time and go from there."

On this night, though, Wagner kept making the plays at the plate. Three times she walked into the batter's box with a runner on base. Three times her hit drove in the runner.

"When there's someone on, you kinda know you have to get it done," the sophomore right fielder said. "It feels good to have them out there, cheering you on."

Wagner's showed her own resiliency this season. She was in and out of the starting lineup and occasionally was the designated hitter. But Fisk saw good things in the playoff opener Wednesday - and the team was rewarded.

"She's worked her way back into the lineup," Fisk said, "She's worked real hard on the tees ... and it just worked out."

While Wagner had big hits at the bottom of the order, everyone wearing blue and yellow made their at-bats count. The team had single runs in the second, third and fourth - all of them scored on two-out hits. Their four-run fifth was sparked by good baserunning, which forced three Rose errors.

"You have to put pressure on them, every inning," Lynch said. "Coach gets on us 24-7. Because if not, they can do whatever they want and make things happen."

Whether or not the right things happen Tuesday at Middle Creek, Fisk knows his team is going in with the right frame of mind, and the right momentum.

"This team is playing good right now as a team," the coach said. "That's what's good."

Dan Spears: 343-2038

dan.spears@starnewsonline.com