DUNCAN FALLS — When two of the state’s premier softball sophomore aces square off with a trip to the OHSAA Final Four on the line, everyone expects microscopic margins.
On Saturday, May 30, the difference between winning and losing was a single stray throw.
John Glenn standout Kendall Snider and Licking Valley phenom Emory Whisner put on a breathtaking pitching clinic as advertised, turning in pitching lines that were nearly identical. Both star hurlers went the full seven innings, allowing just three hits, racked up nine strikeouts, and issued two walks.
But a chaotic, unearned run in the top of the third inning proved to be the difference as the Muskies dropped a heartbreaking 1-0 decision to the undefeated Panthers in the Division IV Regional Championship game at the Philo High School Athletic Complex.
Runs were always going to be at a premium. Snider entered the circle with a stunning 18-3 record and a 0.61 ERA, while Whisner brought a perfect 16-0 mark and a 0.68 ERA. While John Glenn repeatedly knocked on the door, they failed to cash in, stranding runners at third in both the first and third innings.
Licking Valley (26-0) manufactured the game’s only tally by capitalizing on a rare moment of defensive misfortune in the top of the third.
The Fatal Third
For most of the afternoon, Snider was completely in command, holding the Panthers to singles from Abby Kochur and Chloe Cooperider. The lone, agonizing blemish on her outing came in the top of the third frame.
With one out, Snider did very un-Snider-like thing by issuing back-to-back walks to Emma Flowers and D’Neya Dennis to put a pair of Panthers on the bases. The sophomore ace quickly regrouped, inducing the next hitter to lift a fly ball to left field for the second out of the frame.
Then, chaos erupted. On the return throw to the infield, the ball sailed high and skipped through the John Glenn infield. Seeing the misplay, Flowers got busy on the base paths and raced hard for home plate.
The John Glenn defense scrambled beautifully, recovering to fire the ball to the plate ahead of the sliding Flowers, But unfortunately for the Muskies and their fans, the ball kicked away at the plate during the ensuing play, allowing Flowers — who also had a single on the day — to slide home safely with what proved to be the only run of the game.
Agonizing near-misses
The unearned run loomed massive because the Muskies simply could not find the timely hit to solve Whisner, despite putting immense pressure on the Panthers’ defense.
Right away in the bottom of the first, John Glenn had a golden opportunity to dictate the temp. Senior Estelle Matheney led off with a sharp single and worked her way around to third base with just one out. But Whisner dug in, escaping the jam to keep the Muskies off te scoreboard.
“We had a chance to jump out 1-0 in that first inning, Estelle got us started with that hit,” John Glenn head coach Kyle Porter said. “But we could not get her in … if we could have pushed that run across there, I think it would have put pressure on them right away. And at the same time gave us a big boost as well.”
The Muskies replicated that exact threat in the bottom of the third, again putting a runner on third with one out, but again Whisner escaped unscathed. John Glenn’s bats collected a single from Libby Brown and a double from Kenli Porter−the game’s only extra base hit−but each time, Whisner found the answer.
Seventh inning drama
Down to their final three outs in the bottom of the seventh and still trailing 1-0, the Muskies gave their fans one final reason to roar. Refusing to go quietly, Addi Babcock and Ava Miller coaxed back-to-back walks from Whisner to start the inning.
The consecutive free passes suddenly put the tying and winning runs on base with nobody out, placing the undefeated Panthers on the absolute brink. Yet, showing the poise that earned her an unblemished record, Whisner tight-roped out of danger one final time.
She recovered to retire the next three hitters to end the threat and secure the regional crown, punching Licking Valley’s ticket to the OHSAA state semifinals.
Despite the painful finish, coach Porter kept the big picture in perspective when reflecting on the classic battle and his team’s remarkable season.
“Both teams played hard, Kendall and Whisner both pitched very well,” Porter said. “But we made a couple of mistakes and couldn’t take advantage of our scoring opportunities and that’s the game. But what a season we had, so proud of these girls. Two great teams battled and today Licking Valley came out on top. Good luck to them at state.”
With the tough-luck setback, a spectacular season for John Glenn comes to a close at 26-6, while Licking Valley advances to the Final Four at 26-0.
KSutton1@gannett.com; X: @KSuttonDJSports; Instagram: kevinsutton_dailyjeffsports
This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: John Glenn’s 26-win season ends in tough loss to Licking Valley
Reporting by Kevin Sutton, Cambridge Daily Jeffersonian / The Daily Jeffersonian
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
