State softball: Gniadek's no-hitter puts Hickory in semifinals

CHESAPEAKE

Jennifer Gniadek’s timing for her fourth career no-hitter was impeccable Tuesday.

The Hickory righthander baffled Herndon’s hitters and singled to spark the deciding rally in the fourth inning as the Hawks advanced to Friday’s state Group AAA softball semifinals with a 2-0 home victory over the Hornets.

“It was a little nerve-racking until we scored in the fourth, and then things smoothed out,” said Gniadek, who ran her record to 21-1. “Herndon’s hitters were a bit undisciplined and helped things swinging at some bad pitches.

“The no-hitter was nice, but the important thing is getting to the semifinals.”

Friday’s game – at 4 p.m. at Westfield High School in Chantilly – will mark Hickory’s second appearance in the semifinals in three years.

Gniadek allowed two baserunners – one on an infield throwing error in the fifth and the other with a wild pitch on a third strike in the sixth. The Florida International signee struck out 10 of the first 12 batters. She finished with 12 strikeouts and extended her scoreless inning streak to 33.

Hickory has to wait until tonight to learn its semifinal foe because Tuesday’s quarterfinal between Central Region champion Deep Run and Northwest Region runner-up Loudoun Valley was rained out.

The victors victimized Herndon reliever Katie Rynex, who came on to start the fourth inning.

Gniadek greeted the Ball State-bound pitcher with a line single to right field. After a strikeout, Hickory coach Ryan Wieck employed the same bunting strategy that led to the Eastern Region semifinal win over Kellam in the 12th inning.

“When their coach (Bonnie O’Hearn) yelled to Rynex that she was responsible for all bunts to the first-base side, I was delighted,” Wieck said. “She threw almost all hard stuff and we were able to get bunts down.”

With Herndon first baseman Tori Thompson playing even with the bag, the next three batters bunted successfully to that side, breaking a scoreless tie.

After two sacrifices and a throwing error, Emily Burke provided the decisive bunt, pushing the ball past Rynex and forcing second baseman Whitney Small to field it too late to retire either Burke or to prevent Shayna Herbst from scoring from third. The late throw toward first was wide, allowing Emily Ambrous to bounce up from her slide at third and score an insurance run.

“This team knows the value of the bunt and they all can execute it,” Wieck said. “It was a good move on Herndon’s part to start (Katie) Briggs because we were expecting Rynex, but it eventually worked in our favor.”

Rynex, who missed much of the season after breaking her right ankle in March, returned in the district tournament two weeks ago. After two successful starts, she filled the closer role in the Northern Region semifinals, then started again in a region final loss to Westfield.

“At least three Herndon players commented on how tough Gniadek was when we were shaking hands after the game,” Wieck said.

Hickory senior Rachel West singled twice, making her the program’s all-time singles leader with 83. She also owns the career record for sacrifices and games played.

“We were up and excited for this game,” Gniadek said. “Now we have to maintain it for two more.”