Staff photo / Greg Macafee McDonald’s Jenna Helco sprints home Wednesday night against Jackson-Milton in their sectional final matchup.

MCDONALD — From the thrill of victory, to the agony of defeat, postseason softball provides a range of emotions for everyone involved.

That was the case when Jackson-Milton visited McDonald on Wednesday. Trailing 5-3, in the bottom of the fifth, the Blue Devils came from behind and kept their season alive with an 8-5 triumph.

“We were down,” McDonald coach Michelle Titus said. “We never come into a game expecting to win. We always respect our opponents.

“We just want to focus on doing our best. If our best isn’t good enough, then it’s not good enough. It’s always about giving the best that we have, and that’s what we did to come back.”

The Devils certainly did. Freshman Gianna Mancini was a home run shy of hitting for the cycle after blasting a grand slam homer in the previous game. The grand slam was the first in 10 years for McDonald. She scored in the fifth, and sixth, as the Devils came back.

“It was intense today,” Mancini said. “It was kind of scary, but we came back. We stayed positive, and we came out with the win. Hopefully, we can keep on winning. We just have to stay positive.”

Another Blue Devil that always brings positivity to the diamond is senior Lucia Wolford. The slick-fielding shortstop made a tremendous diving catch to end the ballgame.

“We didn’t have the energy we needed in the beginning,” Wolford said. “Then, we started hitting. We all picked each other up. The three other seniors (Anjalena Exline, Riley Matig, Chelsea Sudol), and myself calmed down the younger players. We told them that it’s okay to make a mistake. Just don’t let them build.

“Jackson-Milton came out strong. They’re a good team.”

Jackson-Milton senior shortstop Chelsea Williams had a leadoff double, and came around to score to put the Blue Jays up 1-0 in the top of the first.

Williams, and fellow senior Kylie Wilson, crossed the plate in the top of the third as the Jays came out hot.

“I’m so proud of my girls,” Jackson-Milton coach Mariah Ciccolelli said. “We started out hot. Our bats have been hot the past couple of weeks. We wanted to be here. We just couldn’t keep up with them.

“Macayle Thornhill pitched the whole game for us. She has been phenomenal. She’s been pitching through a quad injury. She’s kept up her composure with all of the pressure that’s been on her shoulders.”

Bri McCombs pitched a complete game for McDonald (13-1). She singled, driving in Wolford with the final run of the game, before tossing a 1-2-3 top of the seventh.

“They’re both leaders,” Titus said. “They do a good job of controlling the team, and their good teammates.”