Glenelg softball was down to its final out and trailing Reservoir by a run. Coach Anna Pallozzi encouraged her players to remain calm and seek contact.
A walk and a single set the table for Rylie Thomas. In that moment, the sophomore’s mind was blank. She was energized by the support of the Gladiators bench and solely focused on getting on base.
“It’s so key,” Thomas said of her teammate’s confidence in her. “I love that everybody is hype and saying, ‘Yes, yes, yes.’ That’s what really makes everyone so excited when you’re excited to hit the ball, get on base and score runs.”
She delivered with a blooper that went off the glove of the Gators right fielder and scored two runs. Thomas later came around to score on an Addie Pence triple as the No. 8 Gladiators took a two-run lead entering the bottom of the seventh.
The Gladiators fought off the Gators’ comeback attempt in the bottom half to preserve a 6-4 win. It ended the top-ranked Gators’ remarkable 51-game regular-season winning streak against county opponents.
“A game like Reservoir, this tight whether you win or lose, is the best game to ask for,” Pallozzi said. “It teaches us where our strengths and weaknesses are. It teaches our younger girls how to stay battling. Reese [Holden], Jamie Shaw, Bella Wisniewski, they’ve been around the block before. Addie, Rylie, some of these younger girls, mostly my sophomores, Madison Duignan, their resilience in a game where we’re going shot for shot just instilled why they’re here and why they’re on varsity.”
Rylie Thomas hits a blooper to right field and it hits off the glove of the right fielder scoring two to put the Gladiators up 5-4.
Reservoir loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh with one out. A pop out brought up Cambell Sagin, who already had three hits. However, Wisniewski won the final battle, popping her up to second to seal the win.
“I knew I had an advantage being up two runs and I had my defense behind me,” Wisniewski said. “With two outs and a two-strike count, I knew she was going to swing, so I knew I had the advantage. Just throw anything right off the plate to get her to swing and I knew my defense had my back behind me.”
Each pitcher silenced the opposing lineup early. Glenelg (7-1, 6-1 Howard County) broke through first in the top of the third on Holden’s rocket up the middle, scoring two runs. Reservoir answered right back in the bottom half on Sagin’s two-run home run to straight-away center.
Reservoir starting pitcher #3, Abbie Frisvold. Reservoir vs. Glenelg softball at Reservoir High School. The Gladiators edged the Gators 6-4. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Reservoir starting pitcher #3, Abbie Frisvold. Reservoir vs. Glenelg softball at Reservoir High School. The Gladiators edged the Gators 6-4. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Glenelg #14, Madison Duignan hits a double to left in the 1st inning. Reservoir vs. Glenelg softball at Reservoir High School. The Gladiators edged the Gators 6-4. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Reservoir #10, Keira Walsh makes a play on a fly ball to center in the 1st inning. Reservoir vs. Glenelg softball at Reservoir High School. The Gladiators edged the Gators 6-4. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Reservoir #22, Catherine Yourishin, cant make a play on a high throw from the plate, advancing to runner to 3rd. Reservoir vs. Glenelg softball at Reservoir High School. The Gladiators edged the Gators 6-4. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Reservoir 3rd baseman #7, Daiye Smith couldn't make the tag as Glenelg #14, Madison Duignan slides into 3rd on the over throw play at 2nd. Reservoir vs. Glenelg softball at Reservoir High School. The Gladiators edged the Gators 6-4. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Glenelg starting pitcher #9, Bella Wisniewski. Reservoir vs. Glenelg softball at Reservoir High School. The Gladiators edged the Gators 6-4. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Glenelg starting pitcher #9, Bella Wisniewski. Reservoir vs. Glenelg softball at Reservoir High School. The Gladiators edged the Gators 6-4. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Glenelg #7, Jamie Shaw makes a play ojn a fly ball to center in the 1st inning. Reservoir vs. Glenelg softball at Reservoir High School. The Gladiators edged the Gators 6-4. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Glenelg #6, Abiola Owens, makes a play on a fly ball in the 1st inning. Reservoir vs. Glenelg softball at Reservoir High School. The Gladiators edged the Gators 6-4. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Reservoir #16, Cambell Sagin makes a play on a ground ball to 1st in the 2nd inning. Reservoir vs. Glenelg softball at Reservoir High School. The Gladiators edged the Gators 6-4. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Reservoir #18, Shelby Granzow makes a play on an infield fly in the 2nd inning. Reservoir vs. Glenelg softball at Reservoir High School. The Gladiators edged the Gators 6-4. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Glenelg #6, Abiola Owens, makes a play on a foul ball in the 1st inning. Reservoir vs. Glenelg softball at Reservoir High School. The Gladiators edged the Gators 6-4. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Glenelg #6, Abiola Owens, lays down a bunt for a base hit to start the 3rd inning.. Reservoir vs. Glenelg softball at Reservoir High School. The Gladiators edged the Gators 6-4. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Glenelg #6, Abiola Owens, is hit by the ball on a throw as she steals 2nd base in the 3rd inning.. Reservoir vs. Glenelg softball at Reservoir High School. The Gladiators edged the Gators 6-4. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Glenelg #7, Jamie Shaw slaps a hit down the 3rd baser line for a base hit in the 3rd. Reservoir vs. Glenelg softball at Reservoir High School. The Gladiators edged the Gators 6-4. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Reservoir 3rd baseman #7, Daiye Smith can't make a play on a shot down the line in the 3rd inning. Reservoir vs. Glenelg softball at Reservoir High School. The Gladiators edged the Gators 6-4. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Glenelg's Reese Holden hits a two-run double to center field in the third inning of Thursday's win over Reservoir. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Glenelg #3, Reese Holden is caught in a run-down between 1st and 2nd to end the top half of the 3rd inning. Reservoir vs. Glenelg softball at Reservoir High School. The Gladiators edged the Gators 6-4. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Reservoir #18, Shelby Granzow leads of the 3rd with a stand-up double to deep center field. Reservoir vs. Glenelg softball at Reservoir High School. The Gladiators edged the Gators 6-4. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Reservoir #16, Cambell Sagin ties the game with this 2-run home run ball to center field in the 3rd inning. Reservoir vs. Glenelg softball at Reservoir High School. The Gladiators edged the Gators 6-4. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Reservoir #16, Cambell Sagin is met at home plate by her teammates after hitting a 2-run home run in the 3rd. Reservoir vs. Glenelg softball at Reservoir High School. The Gladiators edged the Gators 6-4. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Glenelg #2, Rylie Thomas makes a play on a ground ball to short in the 3rd inning. Reservoir vs. Glenelg softball at Reservoir High School. The Gladiators edged the Gators 6-4. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Reservoir #7, Daiye Smith infield base hit in the 3rd inning. Reservoir vs. Glenelg softball at Reservoir High School. The Gladiators edged the Gators 6-4. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Glenelg #7, Jamie Shaw can't hang on to a catch of a fly ball to deep center hit by Reservoir #22, Catherine Yourishin in the 3rd inning. Reservoir vs. Glenelg softball at Reservoir High School. The Gladiators edged the Gators 6-4. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Glenelg #14, Madison Duignan makes a play on a fly ball to shallow center field in the 3rd inning. Reservoir vs. Glenelg softball at Reservoir High School. The Gladiators edged the Gators 6-4. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Reservoir starting pitcher #3, Abbie Frisvold. Reservoir vs. Glenelg softball at Reservoir High School. The Gladiators edged the Gators 6-4. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Glenelg #13 Addi Pence lays down a sacrafice bunt to advance the runner in the 4th inning. Reservoir vs. Glenelg softball at Reservoir High School. The Gladiators edged the Gators 6-4. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Reservoir 2nd baseman #22 Catherine Yourishin takes a shot on a bad bounce but still makes the play for the out at 1st in the 4th inning. Reservoir vs. Glenelg softball at Reservoir High School. The Gladiators edged the Gators 6-4. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Glenelg starting pitcher #9, Bella Wisniewski. Reservoir vs. Glenelg softball at Reservoir High School. The Gladiators edged the Gators 6-4. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Glenelg #18 Kenzie Robinson makes a play on a shot towards the gap between 3rd and short in the 4th inning. Reservoir vs. Glenelg softball at Reservoir High School. The Gladiators edged the Gators 6-4. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Glenelg #14, Madison Duignan beats the throw back to 1st in the 5th inning. Reservoir vs. Glenelg softball at Reservoir High School. The Gladiators edged the Gators 6-4. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Glenelg #3, Reese Holden RBI double to center field in the 5th inning. Reservoir vs. Glenelg softball at Reservoir High School. The Gladiators edged the Gators 6-4. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Reservoir #10, Keira Walsh makes a play on a fly ball to center in the 6th inning. Reservoir vs. Glenelg softball at Reservoir High School. The Gladiators edged the Gators 6-4. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
The Gladiators reclaimed the lead in the fifth on Holden’s single to deep right. Once again, Reservoir (9-2, 8-1) answered to even the score in the bottom half on Michele Mason’s sacrifice fly. the Gators took their first lead in the top of the seventh on Abbie Frisvold’s double to right-center field.
But Glenelg landed the final blow in a back-and-forth battle.
“My message was, ‘We want to be in these situations, and it is OK when we don’t come through,'” Reservoir coach Julie Frisvold said. ‘It is OK when we don’t come through because now that we’ve been in this situation, it matters down the line. I want this team to go as far into playoffs as possible, so these county games are phenomenal practice. It’s OK to come out here and be tested and learn from that experience to get better the next time.'”
Glenelg’s marquee win came a day after a 2-0 loss to River Hill, the team’s first of the season. However, it proved to be a valuable learning experience.
“I think we were too confident to a point where that loss was really humbling,” said Holden, one of three team captains. “We needed that to bounce back because our confidence was a little too high, which can hurt teams. I think it did yesterday, but we came back.”
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