SUGAR GROVE ― Before the Division VII district title game ever started on May 23 at Berne Union, Newark Catholic senior Veronica Bailey made a statement with the way she was throwing the ball.
“We had our two pitchers, Veronica and Aly Rothweiler, warm up side by side, and we have a lot of faith in them both,” coach Mike Justice said. “But Sam (assistant coach Samantha Santillo) said Veronica was looking very good.”
Bailey earlier threw a seven-inning perfect game against Heath, then followed that up with a five-inning “perfecto” against second-seeded Madison Christian as the top-seeded Green Wave (20-9) repeated as district champions with a dominant 10-0 win.
Not only did she strike out 11 of the 15 batters, including the first nine. But she also drove in four runs, including three with a game-clinching bases-loaded triple, as NC advanced to meet Southington Chalker in a regional semifinal at 5 p.m. May 27 at Dalton High School.
“When she’s locked in like that, she can be really hard to beat,” Justice said. “I sent her video of Nebraska pitcher Jordy Frahm, with the way she controls the circle, attacks from the circle, and that’s what she did today. Plus, I think there was a little bit of fire in her, because our opponent’s coach voted for the Millersport pitcher over her on all-district, and she only made honorable mention All-Ohio.”
Bailey had the Eagles (17-8) chasing her riseball, but also worked in the curve.
“After one time through the order, I started mixing in more off speed,” she said. “But it’s a team game. The pitcher has to throw strikes, the defense has to play well behind her, and we have to hit the ball. And today, we did.”
A quick start provided Bailey with more than enough support.
After she drew a leadoff walk, twin sister Joanna Bailey scored her with a double off the left field fence, then catcher Brooklyn Kurtz tripled to right and scored on a wild pitch. Jahni Whitney was hit by a pitch and later scored on a suicide squeeze by Rothweiler as NC led 4-0.
McKenzie Gebhart was hit by a pitch, Marissa Richards reached on a throwing error, and Veronica Bailey and Kurtz delivered RBI singles in the fourth as the lead grew to 7-0. Then in the fifth, Rothweiler and Gebhart walked, Ella Valenzuela was hit by a pitch and Veronica cleared the bases by lashing a triple down the right field line.
“We all have to play our part,” said Kurtz, a junior. “We have to come together and attack the plate, but still make sure we wait on the ball.”
The Green Wave had Madison’s pitcher well scouted.
“We had a really good game plan,” Justice said. “She tends to struggle a little bit with accuracy, so we moved up in the box.”
Kurtz also noticed how well Veronica was pitching in warmups.
“She had a stellar performance,” she said. “She came in and pitched great, but knew she had a defense that was going to make plays behind her.”
The addition of Santillo to the coaching staff has been a big boost. She was a four-year starting catcher at Division I Robert Morris, also serving as an assistant coach for the Colonials, and as a head coach collegiately and in high school.
The Green Wave has been to the Sweet 16 in three of the last four seasons, but has not won since the 2021 team made it to Akron. The senior-laden group would like to change that. The winner of their game will meet the Cortland Maplewood-North Jackson Milton survivor for a state berth on May 29 at Dalton, in Wayne County between Massillon and Wooster.
“We want to send the seven seniors out on a good note,” Kurtz said.
Observed Justice: “I don’t think we’re done yet. The last four years have been nice, but they want to take that next step. I’ve done it twice (with Johnstown) and know what it takes to get to the next level.”
A late-season 3-1 win against those same Johnnies, who just won a Division V district championship, showed NC what it is capable of.
“Obviously, we’re looking at getting to the state, but we can’t overlook the next team,” Veronica said. “It’s exciting, but we have to make sure we show up for every game the same.”
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Veronica Bailey pitches, hits NC softball to another district title
Reporting by Dave Weidig, Newark Advocate / Newark Advocate
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