photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High senior Emme Dye takes a swing during Tuesday's 6-4 loss to Mill Valley on April 25, 2023, at Lawrence High School.

A late stand by the Lawrence High softball team ended in a 6-4 heartbreaker to Mill Valley on Tuesday night at home.

Freshman Sophie Rowley, stepping onto the hill for starting pitcher Taylor Zeckser in the sixth, silenced Mill Valley late priming the Lady Lions, trailing by just three runs, for a big-time comeback in the seventh.

Senior Emme Dye, singling for her second hit of the game, stole second and scored from third on a passed ball, trimming LHS’s deficit to two runs. After LHS picked up a base hit and a walk, a line drive by junior Shea Rowley would’ve loaded the bases with two outs for the Lady Lions, now trailing by two runs.

However, Shea Rowley considered herself out and began heading back toward the dugout. Mill Valley first baseman Elly VanRheen tagged her for the third out and, after a lengthy discussion by the umpires, it was decided that Mill Valley had won the ballgame.

“Our IQ’s gotta grow,” LHS coach Mike Byrn said after the disappointing finish. “We’ve got to understand the game and, until a coach tells you to move — stay put. We’re learning, it’s just not as fast as I want it. We’re getting better, and I know it’s hard to see.”

LHS never seemed to let the Jaguars out of sight, biting their heels all game long.

The Jaguars jumped out early. Zeckser and the LHS defense put up two quick outs, but a walk followed by an RBI double from Mill Valley’s Adisyn Hopkins quickly changed the narrative. LHS, entering the second down 1-0, stranded junior Charlee Burghart (2B) at third in the bottom of the first.

Zeckser walked three consecutive batters to begin the second, creating a dangerous bases-loaded situation with no outs. The jam unraveled, though, with sophomore Reese Dannevik catching a pop-up for the first out. Next, LHS third baseman Maddy Crawford scooped up a grounder by Mill Valley’s Kinley Ruder to setup a big-time double play for the Lady Lions.

Crawford wasn’t done, though. The junior led off the bottom of the second with a one-run bomb to left-center field. A sacrifice RBI by senior Hailey Ramirez added another run, giving LHS a 2-1 lead with two outs before Mill Valley starter Annabelle Alena closed the second with her third strikeout of the game.

Mill Valley, striking back in the third, crossed three runs on another RBI-double by Hopkins and an RBI single by Madi Lehr. Trailing 4-2 when the side retired, Dye provided a scoring opportunity for the Lady Lions, advancing to third on a base hit, with two outs left in the third. Senior Maelee Folks, looking to bring Dye home, popped a ball into the air and Mill Valley catcher Macee Moore made the inning-saving catch.

Byrn said the Jaguars’ bats provided Zeckser with a tall test on Tuesday.

“They’re a good hitting club, and we knew that coming in today,” Byrn said. “We don’t have a power pitcher. We don’t have that arm that throws 62-63 (mph).”

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High junior Taylor Zeckser throws a pitch during Tuesday’s 6-4 loss to Mill Valley on April 25, 2023, at Lawrence High School.

Dannevik, following a swift 1-2-3 fourth inning for Mill Valley, led off the bottom of the fourth with a base hit, stealing her way to second during the next at-bat. With baserunners at third and second, holding two outs, Ramirez was thrown out heading to first keeping the Lady Lions silent through two consecutive innings.

The Jaguars scratched two more hits off Zeckser in the top of the fifth, placing baserunners at third and first with two outs. An RBI double by Moore brought in Hopkins and VanRheen. Ramirez made a leaping catch for a flyout during the next at-bat, holding Mill Valley just two runs in the fifth.

Down 6-2 in the bottom of the fifth, LHS shaved a run off its deficit on an RBI single by Lydia Folks, her first hit of the game, which drove in Dye (3B) from third.

Down by three runs, LHS stranded junior Shea Rowley at first in the bottom of the sixth.

Sophie Rowley, pressured with runners at second and third in the top of the seventh, escaped the late jam when Brooklyn Lafon grounded out to first.

Ultimately, Sophie Rowley’s late pitching efforts went unrewarded after the game-ending base blunder. The momentum-shattering finish left a sour taste in Byrn’s mouth after LHS (5-10) opened the year with five consecutive wins.

“I want the kids to hate losing,” Byrn said. “We’ve got to continue to grow with this group, and it’s a big process. We’ll get there.”

BOX SCORE:

Mill Valley 103 020 0 — 6 7 3

Lawrence High 020 010 1 — 4 11 5

W — Alena; L — Zeckser

Highlights for LHS: Dannevik 2-for-2; Dye 2-for-3, 2 R, 3B; M. Folks 2-for-4, R; Crawford 1-for-3, HR, RBI; L. Folks 2-for-4, RBI; Ramirez 0-for-3, RBI; Zeckser 5.0 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K; Rowley 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 K.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High senior Gabi Vasquez heads for third base during the seventh inning of Tuesday’s 6-4 loss to Mill Valley on April 25, 2023, at Lawrence High School.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High freshman Ava Mondi makes the late tag on Mill Valley’s Adisyn Hopkins during Tuesday’s 6-4 loss to Mill Valley on April 25, 2023, at Lawrence High School.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High senior Emme Dye smiles at her dugout after arriving at third base during Tuesday’s 6-4 loss to Mill Valley on April 25, 2023, at Lawrence High School.