Kiersten Hull struck out four and scattered seven hits May 14 for the Utica softball team but three errors proved costly as visiting No. 9 Northmor escaped with a 3-2 nine-inning victory in a Division V first-round game.
Hull did not allow a walk nor an earned run for No. 6 Utica (13-12). Kenzie Fletcher doubled twice, scored a run and drove in one, and Hull added a hit and an RBI and Brooklyn White a run.
Johnstown cruises
Jenna Hochanadel tripled and singled, scored three runs and drove in three for Johnstown in an 18-0 victory against visiting No. 11 Amanda-Clearcreek in a Division V first-round game.
Lucia Kuhn doubled and singled and drove in three runs, and she also struck out 12 in a five-inning three-hit shutout for the No. 2 Johnnies (20-6-1), who host No. 8 Fredericktown for a district semifinal at 5 p.m. May 18. Abigail Wood added a double and a single and three runs, Violet Wentzel two hits, a run and an RBI and Addy Zak a double and two RBIs.
Granville falls in seventh
Avary King racked up five hits, including a two-run double, for Granville, but host No. 5 Bishop Hartley rallied for three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and four in the seventh, sending the No. 9 Blue Aces (11-17) to a 10-9 defeat in a Division III first-round game.
Aubrey Lackey hit her school-record 18th home run of the season and also tripled, scoring three times. Jillian Brownfield added a home run and three RBIs, Sydney Cottrill two hits and two runs and Josie Opfer two hits and two RBIs.
Northridge drops road game
Kadance Adkins doubled and singled, scored a run and drove in two for Northridge in a 16-6 loss at No. 5 Fairbanks in a Division V first-round game.
Ashlynn Mauger also doubled and singled for the No. 10 Vikings (8-17). Ellie Reese added a home run and two RBIs, Gracie Smith and Nya Van Ostran a hit and a run and Khloe Angus a hit and an RBI.
Heights rallies for win
Abby Roman’s walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning gave Licking Heights a 4-3 victory against visiting Westerville North.
Natalie Mahoney notched three hits and also struck 11 in a six-hitter for the Hornets (15-9), who scored a run in the seventh inning to tie the game. Hailey Anderson added a triple and a single and an RBI, Emma Sagle a double and a single and an RBI and Jadyn Ribbing two hits and a run.
Watkins wins at home
Alli Langwasser’s two-run single in a five-run bottom of the sixth inning gave Watkins Memorial the lead for good in a 9-6 victory against visiting Gahanna.
Ava Bailey, who recorded three hits and three RBIs, delivered a two-run double later in the inning for the Warriors (20-7), and Gracie Gerhardt added three hits and a run, Bryna Davis a two-run home run and Elizabeth Coffman a double, a run and an RBI. Morgan Gerhardt struck out four in a complete game.
NC tripped on road
Joanna Bailey singled and scored for Newark Catholic in a 6-1 loss at West Muskingum.
Jahni Whitney added a double for the Green Wave (17-9). Aly Rothweiler struck out three and allowed four hits and two runs in 5⅓ innings of relief.
BASEBALL
GCA wins on road
Aidan Rhoads recorded three hits and an RBI, leading Granville Christian to a 5-3 victory at Tree of Life in Mid-Ohio Christian Athletic League play.
Jordan Stump and Josiah Green added two hits apiece and combined for three runs and two RBIs, Matthew Riedel a double and a run and Josh Benvie a hit and a run for the Lions (14-8, 9-3), who won their seventh consecutive MOCAL game. Aiden Geiger struck out six and allowed five hits and three runs in 5⅔ innings, and Riedel retired four of the final five batters, striking out two, to earn the save.
Valley wins at home
Cayden Worley struck out three and allowed three hits and two unearned runs in five innings, pitching Licking Valley to an 8-2 victory against visiting John Glenn.
Evan Lohr doubled and singled, scored twice and drove in two runs to lead the Panthers (19-3). Zane Hancock added two hits, including a double, Silas Kyle two hits and two RBIs and Brody Rodgers a double, two runs and an RBI.
Watkins rolls on road
Kaden Barrows was a perfect 3 for 3 with two doubles, three runs and an RBI, igniting Watkins Memorial in a 12-2 victory at Sheridan.
Jax Dotson added three hits, two runs and two RBIs, Cam Burt two hits, two runs and two RBIs, Dylan Gray two hits, a run and an RBI and Tanner Neal and Cooper Lang two hits and an RBI apiece for the Warriors (15-8). Burt also struck out two and allowed four hits and one earned run in four innings.
Heights wins at home
Blake Caldwell struck out seven and allowed one earned run in a six-hitter, pitching Licking Heights to an 8-2 victory against visiting Bishop Ready.
Zach Bricker led the Hornets (6-15) with two hits, three runs and an RBI. Tino Martin added two hits and two RBIs, Maxim Fink a triple and two runs and Lance Burkhart a double and a single.
Liberty beats Torah
Dawson Kamppi, Jacob Widmer and Logan Dyer each doubled and singled, combining for four runs and four RBIs in Liberty Christian’s 11-7 victory against visiting Torah Academy.
Max LaPorte added a hit, two runs and two RBIs and Layne Crockett a hit, a run and an RBI for the Eagles (7-11). Seth Mollohan, who allowed six hits in six innings, and Crockett combined for eight strikeouts.
Newark rally falls short
Braylon Beckett piled up three hits, two runs and two RBIs for Newark, whose seven-run bottom of the sixth inning was not quite enough in an 11-10 loss to visiting Pickerington North.
Landyn Ankrum and Trenton Wilson each doubled and singled, combining for three runs and two RBIs for the Wildcats (17-5). Kodie Steele added a double and two runs and Luke Miller a double and two RBIs.
Lakewood drops road game
Jaxson Marlo struck out three and allowed a hit and an unearned run in an inning of relief for Lakewood in a 4-1 loss at Jonathan Alder.
Marlo was one of five Lancers (7-16) to record a single. Jalen White scored the lone run, and Garrett Hardway drove him in.
NC falls on road
Kane Stephey hit a solo home run for Newark Catholic in a 5-2 loss at Ridgewood.
Stephey recorded three of the nine hits for the Green Wave (15-7), and Hal Gillespie added a hit and an RBI. Max Moore struck out four and allowed one run in two innings of relief.
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Roundup: Licking County softball teams lose postseason nailbiters
Reporting by Kurt Snyder, Newark Advocate / Newark Advocate
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