ATHENS — Tusky Valley led three-time state champion Wheelersburg by two runs with three outs remaining in their classic extra-inning Division V regional championship softball game at Ohio University Saturday, May 30.
But the Pirates (21-5) rallied with three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to hand the Trojans (24-5) a heartbreaking 7-6 setback.
“Nobody deserved to lose that game,” said Wheelersburg head coach Teresa Ruby of the back-and-forth showdown.
“I’m very proud of them, they played a really hard game, a really tough game, and we fought all the way to the end,” said Tusky Valley head coach Staci Martin of her Trojans.
The game featured two outstanding pitchers in Tusky Valley junior right-hander Brennen Reichman, an Ohio State commit, and Wheelersburg right-hander Emmee Eaton. Both pitchers went all nine innings with Eaton getting the win, striking out seven and walking seven, including four intentional walks to Reichman, who took the loss while striking out 10 and walking just two.
After being held scoreless and hitless through five innings while trailing the Pirates 3-0, Tusky Valley’s bats erupted for eight hits and six runs over the final four frames. The Trojans cut the deficit to 3-2 in the top of the sixth on an RBI single to right by Hallee Borell and an RBI bunt single by Calli Stutz.
Leading the Tusky Valley offense on the afternoon were Borell (RBI single and a pair of two RBI doubles), JJ Wallace (double), Stutz (RBI single), Elli Wallick (single), Morgan Wright (single) and Delaney Erickson (RBI single).
“They were starting to time it up pretty good,” said Martin of her team’s offensive surge. “We made some really good adjustments in the box later in the game.”
Tusky Valley took a 4-3 lead in the top of the seventh on a ringing two-RBI double down the line in right from Borell.
But Wheelersburg tied it with a solo run in the bottom of the seventh on an infield error as the Pirates’ Ava Estes, who had three hits, raced around two bases to tie the game at 4-4 and send it to extra innings.
After a scoreless eighth, Tusky Valley took a 6-4 advantage in the top of the ninth on an RBI double to right by Borell and an RBI single off the bat of Delaney Erickson.
Wheelersburg answered when Jalynn Drake smashed a two-RBI double to deep right to tie things at 6-6. Makenzie Mullens then stepped to the plate and won the game with an RBI double to center field.
“It’s not how we wanted it to end,” said Martin. “But I’m very proud of these girls.”
Second-ranked Wheelersburg advances to the Division 5 state tournament at Akron’s Firestone Stadium where it will meet fourth-ranked Casstown Miami East in a semifinal at 10 a.m. June 6.
Meanwhile, Tusky Valley, which won the IVC South crown and advanced further in the tourney than any team in Trojan history, returns a very talented club, led by its star pitcher Reichman next spring.
“These girls worked hard and they deserved to be here, and they deserved to be able to move on and it was a hard-fought game, and we just have to regroup and set back up and start over again next year,” Martin said.
Defending champs nip Conotton Valley’s playoff run
ATHENS — Defending state champion Portsmouth Notre Dame scored all three of its runs in the first inning and held off some Conotton Valley rallies to nip the Rockets 3-2 in a Division VII regional final softball game at Ohio University Saturday, May 30.
Conotton Valley (20-10) advanced farther in tournament play than any Rockets team in school history.
“We played a very hard schedule, we played Dover and Division I schools just to prepare for this moment, and we tip our hats off our kids, we love our kids, and we’re so proud of what they’ve done for us and the community,” said Conotton Valley head coach Jeremy Ady.
Third-ranked Portsmouth Notre Dame (26-4) advanced to next week’s state tournament at Firestone Stadium in Akron and will play second-ranked Sycamore Mohawk in a DVII state semifinal at 12:30 p.m. June 4.
Conotton Valley’s standout senior pitcher Maddison Kelley, a Division I collegiate signee and one of the top pitchers in Ohio, took the loss. Kelley tossed a five-hitter while striking out nine and walking just two batters.
“She (Kelley) is going to Valparaiso, and she’s a very coachable kid and loves to compete,” Ady said. “You feel bad for kids like her because this was a great opportunity for our kids, and you tip our hats to them. That’s why we play. It’s never easy and today is proof of that.”
Conotton Valley took an early 1-0 lead to open the game in the top half of the first inning. Maddison Kelley drew a two-out walk and then came all the way around to score on a throwing error.
The Titans scored all the runs they needed when they plated three in the bottom of the first inning. Portsmouth Notre Dame loaded the bases, aided by a two-base outfield error. The Titans’ Lyndsey Schaefer had an RBI sacrifice fly to tie the game at 1-1. Two batters later, Portsmouth Notre Dame’s Ava Rush hit a two-RBI double to deep left, giving the Titans a 3-1 advantage.
“Our kids played extremely hard after that first inning,” Ady said. “We all know when you make it this far you can’t have those innings, but we responded back and had very little mistakes after that, but in a regional game it’s every little mistake that counts against you.”
The Rockets had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the top of the sixth inning when Arionna Spano had a one-out infield single and teammate Ashtyn Walker followed with a single to left. But Portsmouth Notre Dame pitcher Ava Rush, who went all seven innings to get the win while striking out eight and walking one, induced a fly ball out to go along with a strikeout to end the rally.
Conotton Valley’s offense was paced by Ava Williams (two singles), Emma Karns (single), Delilah Williams (single), Maddison Kelley (single), Arionna Spano (single) and Ashtyn Walker (single).
“We lose seven seniors out of the 16 girls, so it’s a big hit on our program, but with the tradition of our program, our kids are ready to compete,” Ady said. “That’s life a little bit, it gives us challenges, but our kids are hungry, and our kids compete, and that’s what we’re most proud of.”
Garaway falls to West Jefferson
The Riders were too much for the Pirates in the Division VI regional championship, as West Jefferson advanced to state with a 5-0 victory.
Garaway’s Annabelle King threw five innings with 6 strikeouts and 4 runs in the loss.
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Wheelersburg softball defeats Tusky Valley to win regional title in thriller
Reporting by Mike Brown, Special to The Times-Reporter / The Times-Reporter
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
