Plymouth's Marissa Blassic blasted a second-inning home run to stake the 'Cats to a 1-0 lead. (Ed Wright photo)

Extra Exciting
Gerou's clutch hit in 9th lifts 'Cats

BY ED WRIGHT
April 19, 2010, 9:20 p.m.

  Elaine Gerou has been a high school varsity softball player for just over a week and she's already approaching hero's status.

  The smallest player on Plymouth's softball field Monday afternoon provided the biggest impact when she laced a two-out double up the left-center field alley to score Kayla Rebain with the winning run in the Wildcats' thrilling 4-3 victory over Salem.

  Gerou also allowed just one run in 4.2 innings of relief to pick up the mound victory.

  The petite difference-maker was mobbed by her teammates seconds after she roped a Brianna Lee fastball up the gap, plating Rebain, who had been sacrificed to second by a perfect Tessa Heldmeyer bunt.

  "I guess I was a little nervous," said Gerou, reflecting on her mind-set when she stepped into the batter's box for the final time Monday. "But I knew I was going to do my best."

  What were her teammates saying to her during the post-game celebration?

  "I couldn't hear them, they were all just screaming and jumping on me," Gerou said, smiling. "It felt good to get a big hit against Salem."

  "Elaine plays with such confidence and composure for a freshman," said Plymouth coach Val Canfield. "She plays like she's been playing the game her entire life. She has that drive and focus you need to be successful."

  The victory improved Plymouth's record to 7-1 overall and 3-1 in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association's Kensington Conference.

  Salem, which swept a pair of games from Allen Park on Saturday, slipped to 4-1.

  Both starting pitchers -- Plymouth's Lauren Smith and Lee -- were razor sharp over the first four innings.

  Plymouth grabbed a 1-0 advantage on Marissa Blassic's lead-off blast over the left-center field fence in the second inning.

  The Wildcats manufactured a run in the fourth when Stacey Klonowski drew a lead-off walk, Amanda Burnard reached on an error and Blassic sacrificed both runners over a base with a textbook bunt.

  It appeared Lee would divert any further damage when she struck out Bri Giordano, however, with two outs, Klonowski scored on a wild pitch to extend the hosts' lead to 2-0.

  Smith gave up just four hits and struck out five over the first four innings before Salem put up a two-spot in the fifth. Mary Johnson led off the frame with a triple and scored when the next batter, Heidi Schmidt, lofted a long sacrifice fly to center field.

  The next batter, sophomore third baseman Brianna Berberet, then launched a towering home run over the left-center field fence to knot the game at 2-2..

  Salem seized its first and only lead of the afternoon in the top of the seventh when Schmidt defied Plymouth's four-outfielder alignment by ripping a singled to left. Berberet then laid down a bunt single and Alexis Powell brought home Schmidt with a single.

  Plymouth forced the extra frames when Gerou poked a two-out, two-strike single to left, scoring Rebain, who had reached on a one-out single.

  Salem threatened in the top of the ninth when Schmidt reached on a one-out error, Berberet walked and they both advanced on a passed ball.

  However, Gerou worked out of the jam when Powell grounded out on a sizzling shot to Burnard and Lee hit a laser to right that was snared by Kristy Pattison.

  Rebain opened Plymouth's half of the ninth with a single -- the freshman's third hit of the day. Heldmeyer pushed her to second with a soft bunt before Pattison struck out against the hard-throwing Lee.

  With the sun setting and additional innings looming, Gerou rocked a no-doubt double up the left-center field gap, igniting a jubilant celebration in front of the Wildcats' dugout.

  "This felt like a District game," said Canfield, flashing a relieved smile moments after the thriller ended. "The intensity of the game is always so high when these teams meet because they're both great team. When you add in the school spirit and everything else, it make sit that much more fun."

  Ed Wright can be reached at (734) 453-1980 or info@plymouthcantonsports.com.

Salem shortstop Heidi Schmidt tags out Kayla Rebain, who overslid second base during the second inning of Monday's game. (photo by Ed Wright)

Junior Lauren Smith pitched 4.1 strong innings for Plymouth. (photo by Ed Wright)