Serra’s Countryman wins it on walk off

By Ashley Chase

MVI Sports

Bella Countryman took control with her bat and on the bump, to help the Serra Catholic Eagles defeat Brentwood 7-5 with a walkoff home run at Stephen Barry Field at Renziehausen Park.

The game was tied at four entering the seventh inning. Countryman had come on to pitch in relief of starter Lexxie Fite in the sixth, striking out the side.

“I like throwing in those situations, I like coming in under pressure, I feel like I do better that way,” Countryman said.

With two away in the top of the seventh, Brentwood tripled home a run to take the 5-4 lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, Caroline Malandra singled, then scored when Chloe Honick ripped an RBI single to right to bring her home and tie things back up at 5-5.

With two out and the game tied, Countryman stepped into the batters box and drove a shot way back in left center field, a home run in the deep outfield at Stephen Barry.

“I was out in my other at bats because I was early, so I just waited and had good timing on that one,” said Countryman, the Juniata College softball recruit.

The two-run home run walked off the win 7-5 against Brentwood, a team that battled tooth and nail throughout the game.

“Just keep on fighting is my mentality,” Countryman said. “I told the girls, it doesn’t matter what the score is, think of it as zero-zero and keep fighting.”

“We started five girls today who had never played a high school game. We’re working through some things. But Lexxie and Bella, those two pitchers will keep you in most games, it’s just a matter of manufacturing runs,” said head coach Denny Willaman.

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