CALDWELL — A 20-win season is sweet, but punching a ticket to the district finals on the back of a nine-game winning streak is even sweeter. Top-seeded Caldwell hit both milestones in one dominant afternoon on Tuesday, May 19, riding a brilliant one-hit, nine-strikeout shutout from senior ace Makayla Mumaw and a potent offensive explosion to a 10-0 victory over the No. 3 seed River Pilots during Division VIII district semifinal action.
“We are definitely playing well at the right time of the year,” Caldwell head coach Scott Davis said of his team’s blistering nine-game win streak. “I think everybody has totally settled into their roles which is a huge plus for us.”
With the victory, the 20-3 Caldwell squad advances to the district championship game on Thursday, May 21 at 5 p.m. where it will battle No. 4 seed Conotton Valley at Meadowbrook High School in Byesville, with a regional berth hanging in the balance.
Strength in numbers
It was a largely business-like postseason victory for the top seed, which leaned on the familiar formula that has carried them all spring. Mumaw delivered another stellar effort in the circle, keeping the Pilots off-balance while being backed by a solid defensive effort behind her to lock down the dominant complete-game effort.
Caldwell’s offense was equally efficient, manufacturing a timely hitting attack that produces 10 runs on seven hits. Caldwell took a 4-0 lead through the first five innings, before breaking the game open with a six-run explosion in the bottom of the sixth frame to trigger the OHSAA tournament mercy rule and bring an early end to the game.
Junior Breighlee Moracco paced the Caldwell offense with a double and a single. Cami Arick provided a major punch with a single and three RBIs, while freshman Mea Hendershot and Cecelia Marshall each collected an RBI base hit to fuel the attack.
That balance approach has made Caldwell an incredibly tough out as the tournament games grow in magnification.
“We have such a talented group, not just one or two players you can try to take away,” Davis said. “We have a lot of girls who can make things happen.”
The perfect postseason blueprint
Davis couldn’t have asked for a cleaner execution of the game plan against a dangerous River squad, pointing to a vintage blend of pitching, defense and timely hitting.
“Tonight we just took care of business,” Davis added. “Makayla threw a one-hitter with nine Ks and we played solid defense behind her with timely big hits… that’s a pretty good combination.”
KSutton1@gannett.com; X: @KSuttonDJSports; Instagram: kevinsutton_dailyjeffsports
This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Top-seeded Caldwell hits stride at right time, advances to district finals
Reporting by Kevin Sutton, Cambridge Daily Jeffersonian / The Daily Jeffersonian
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