SHADYSIDE – With the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Class 2A championship game just days away Shadyside’s softball team took the field looking for a tune up Wednesday night against visiting Bellaire, and while the Tigers were not at their finest, they turned what could have been a big let down into an instant classic.

Coach Bob Gorrell’s Orange-and-Black overcame an early six run deficit, and trailed by five twice in the later innings, before putting together an epic comeback with a six-run bottom of the seventh to stun their neighbors to the north.

Sophomore Ariana Saxton picked up the win in the circle and belted a seventh inning grand slam while senior Gentry Brown chased home the game winning tallies with a one-out, two-run single as Shadyside rallied for a 14-13 victory over the Big Reds at the Mead Township fields.

“This is the kind of win that can propel you to the next level,” a smiling Gorrell said afterwards. “These girls have so much heart and they just don’t give up, they keep fighting to the end and (Wednesday) we needed that.”

Bellaire took advantage of numerous Shadyside (16-6) mistakes early in the game and continued to take advantage on the base paths throughout the contest.

After getting an RBI single from losing pitcher M.J. Jackson in the second Bellaire (6-10) exploded for five runs in the third to push the margin to 6-0. The Reds actually only had three hits in the frame but were aided by an error, two walks and a hit batsman. Jackson had a run-scoring single while Sidney Rowson ripped a two-run double and the visitors added runs with a bases loaded hit batter and a walk.

Shadyside finally got the bats going in the home-half of the third with leadoff walks to the No. 8 and 9 hitters to get things started. Abby Gorrell singled, with a run scoring on an ensuing error, before Mary Smith made it 6-2 with a base hit. Senior Riley Fulton chased home another pair with a base hit while senior Bella Honeywell capped the four-run frame with an RBI single.

The Tigers knotted the count at 6-6 an inning later scoring a run on an error and another on Smith’s run-scoring fielder’s choice.

Coach Dave Menendez’ squad jumped right back in front in the fifth, loading the bases with no one out for the second time in three innings. Bellaire took a 7-6 lead on a hit batsman for an RBI before Allie Ault’s two-run single made it a 9-6 score. Sophie Porter doubled home a pair two batters later and the visitors had extended the lead to 11-6.

Junior Makenzie Zdunczyk got Shadyside going with a one-out double in the sixth and moved to third on a Gorrell two-sacker. Smith plated her third RBI of the game with another fielder’s choice while the Tigers got a run on an error to cut the margin to 11-8.

Bellaire got an run scoring single from Sophie Porter in the seventh and an RBI double from Riley Porter to give the visitors what appeared to be a little bit of insurance, but things were about to get interesting in the bottom of the frame.

Honeywell started things off with her third single of the game in the home-half of the seventh which was followed by a Macy Hendershot base hit and a walk. That set the stage for Saxton, who launched a home run deep over the fence in left center field, clearing the bases and cut the deficit to 13-12. Zdunzak then singled with Gorrell lacing a base hit and both runners moving up on a wild pitch.

Smith became the first out of the inning on a great, diving catch by Lizzie McAninch in left field, however, when Riley Fulton reached on an error the bases were loaded again and Brown made the Big Reds pay with a two-run, walk-off, single straight up-the-middle that plated the game-winner.

The crazy game watched Bellaire bat around twice, sending 10 to the plate in the third, while Shadyside sent eight girls to the dish in the third and nine in the seventh.

“I am just so proud of these girls right now,” Gorrell added. “You have to have pride and believe and they really do. We got some clutch hits when we needed them and we overcame some things. We got down, but we accepted the challenge and went after them.

“Honestly, I just can’t say enough about these girls and this team right now.”

Honeywell had three hits for the winners while Saxton had a single, home run and four RBI, Brown singled twice and chased home a pair while Smith collected three RBI. The Tigers were playing without the services of starting third baseman Mady Violet due to an injury and lost catcher Taylor Fulton early in the contest as well. Sophia Porter two singles, a double and three RBI for Bellaire while Ault added two singles and two RBI.

Saxton fanned 10 and walked five in the circle.

“Too many errors and walks,” Menendez commented. “I can point out two errors that led to three runs right off the top of my head. We had a chance, we just couldn’t close it out.

“We hit the ball well, but our pitching fell apart. We definitely have some things to clean up.”

Shadyside will host Buckeye Local this afternoon before taking on Wheeling Central in the OVAC Class AA title game slated for Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. at the J.B. Chambers I-470 Sports Complex.