Photo By Kim North River’s Mallorie Maddy (16) celebrates after slugging a two-run home run in the top of the first inning Monday night in an OVAC Class 2A semifinal on Ben’s Field at the I-470 J.B. Chambers Complex high above Elm Grove. Joining the celebration are teammates Ava Wohnhas (17) and Bri Wiley (9). However, the Pilots fell, 4-3.

ELM GROVE — Veteran River softball coach Dave Wright is just like every other coach, he’s not really into moral victories. However, at the same time, he was very proud of his Pilots Monday night.

Defending champion and No. 1 seed Caldwell scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to edge past No. 4 River, 4-3, in an OVAC Tom Bechtel Class 2A semifinal on Ben’s Field at the I-470 J.B. Chambers Complex. The Redskins had mercy-ruled the Pilots in their earl;ier two meetings this season.

The youthful Pilots had taken a 3-2 advantage in the top of the inning when Mallorie Maddy raced home on a two-out single by Presley Kilburn, who had taken a line drive off her left wrist earlier in the game. However, it wasn’t meant to be.

“We had a chance to win. We just made a couple of mental mistakes in the bottom of the sixth that cost us, other than that, I’m very proud of the girls,” Wright said. “They fought hard. I couldn’t have asked for any more out of them.”

Caldwell’s Breighlee Morocco tripled to deep right to start the game-winning rally. Layne Sidwell grounded back to Ava Wohnhas inside the circle. She caught Morocco off the bag at third, but the third baseman’s throw home was errant, allowing Morocco to score the tying run as Sidwell advanced all the way to third. With one out, Cecelia Marshall grounded back to the mound. Ava Wohnhas fielded the ball and looked the runner back to third but as she turned and threw to first for the second out, Sidwell broke from third and slid in just before the throw from Kilburn arrived.

“I’m very disappointed that we lost, but I’m happy that they fought as hard as they did,” Wright offered. “I hope we can bounce back from this. We’ve got a game every day this week.

“Caldwell is a very, very talented team. They hit the ball and they can run. How many ground balls did they turn into infield singles?” Wright asked. “They are a veteran team and we are a very young team. We played young in the sixth inning.”

River took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first when Wohnas was hit with the second pitch of the game from Makayla Mumaw and Maddy sent a 1-1 pitch over the fence in dead center.

Actually, I was trying to bunt her but she didn’t see the sign,” Wright noted.

However, they would only get three more hits off of Mumaw who struck out 14 and didn’t walk a Pilot.

Maddy also singled in the fourth to break up a streak of 10 straight River batters set down by Mumaw.

Caldwell scored on an RBI single by Morocco in the first and drew even in the second when Colie Arick raced home on Addyson Lake’s groundout.

Wohnhas, who pitched well enough to win, struck out nine and didn’t issue a free pass. She retired 10 in a row at one point.

Caldwell will face No. 2 Bridgeport on Saturday at 3 p.m. The Bulldogs blanked No. 3 Shadyside, 10-0.