WOOSTER − During warmups before Hillsdale’s Division VI district final game against Hanoverton United, Hillsdale head coach Nicole Smith was observing the Golden Eagles starting pitcher Madison Aegerter closely.
Early in the first inning, Aegerter was trying to pitch Hillsdale away and off the plate. Smith caught on before the action started.
“We watched her warmup. She started off wild and high, then she started throwing a little bit low, so we had to adjust to it,” Smith said. “We were really working on that outside pitch. The girls were waiting back on her changeup and just hitting it hard. That’s what we wanted to do. We hit really well yesterday and we just carried it over into today.”
Hillsdale dropped 21 runs on Newton Falls in their district semifinal win on Tuesday. On Wednesday, they didn’t score as many but 10 will do just fine for Hillsdale, as the Falcons (19-7) won its second straight Division VI district title 10-2 over Hanoverton United (19-7).
Hillsdale senior catcher Aurora Martin talked about the team dealing with a low-ball pitcher like Aegerter.
“It was definitely a challenge,” she said. “I know for my team, we struggle with low, outside pitches. For me, that’s my strong suit.”
She wasn’t lying. Martin, who batted second, led the the Falcons with three hits, drove in one run and scored three runs in four at-bats.
For a Hillsdale team that’s deep across the board and have one of the best hitters in the area in Jorydn Fickes (hit a two-run home run in the third inning) right now batting seventh in the lineup, they are capable of going off on opposing teams pitching.
Wednesday’s victory marked the 17th game this season that the Falcons have score 10 runs or more.
“We have four or five girls on our team that have hit homeruns,” said Smith, explaining the depth of her lineup. “We got girls that can drop it in the gaps. Lay bunts down for hits. It’s nice to spread out the hits and carry it all the way to the top of the lineup.”
Hillsdale’s winning pitcher on the evening was freshman Maddy Neece (7.0 IP, 7 hits, 2 ER, 6 Ks, 2 walks) and Martin, who caught Neece, was impressed with her younger teammate.
“Oh my gosh, she did fantastic,” said Martin. “I’m so proud of her, especially coming in her freshman year during this tournament game. She was definitely nervous at first but you would be too. Once she got pass that first batter, she was locked in.”
Hillsdale will make their way back to the Division VI regional semifinals, where they will have a regional semifinal rematch with Wayne County Athletic League opponent Dalton (21-5), who beat Hillsdale 6-3 last season in Akron. In fact, Dalton have won five straight dating back to last season against Hillsdale, including two this season 3-2 and 6-0.
In both contests, the Bulldogs ace pitcher Mei Simmons earned wins, as the junior pitched seven innings, had 12 strikeouts, gave up two earned runs on five hits and one walk in the first meeting and in the second meeting, threw a two-hit shutout to go along with nine strikeouts on just two walks in seven innings pitched.
She’ll likely be the starting pitcher the Falcons will face next Wednesday.
Ahead of their regional semifinal game with last year’s Division VI state semifinalists, Smith will be looking to instill belief in her team.
“Patience and bringing some confidence,” said Smith, who mentioned she has been exploring some different hitting strategies with her team of late. “We have faced Mei, I think this will be the sixth time in the last two seasons. Our girls, I know they can hit the ball. Just going to be doing some confidence boosting the next couple of days.”
“We definitely need to keep our heads on straight,” Martin said. “We can beat them. It’s honestly just a mindset. We definitely have some things to work on. They better watch out because we’re ready to roll.”
jamessimpson@gannett.com
Twitter/X: @JamesSimpson II
This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Hillsdale takes care of Hanoverton United for second straight district title, clash with Dalton awaits
Reporting by James Simpson II, Wooster Daily Record / The Daily Record
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