East Knox 18, Mount Gilead 2
Natalie Smith had a day for the ages for East Knox (11-4, 4-4), hitting for the cycle in an 18-2 win for East Knox over Mount Gilead (4-14, 0-8).
East Knox came out of the gate hot, scoring 10 runs over the first four innings, and then piling on another seven in the final frame to dominate Mount Gilead in the win.
East Knox scored four runs in the first and then two runs in the second, third and fourth innings. Mount Gilead put two runs on the board in the fifth, but East Knox scored a run in the fifth and seven in the sixth.
The Bulldogs connected for 16 hits on the day and were led by Smith, who was 4-for-4 hitting for the cycle in what was a historic day for the senior. She also had four RBIs and four runs in the win. Baylee Comer had a 2-for-3 day with a homer and three RBIs, while scoring four times. Shanda Melick hit a triple, going 2-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs. Hannah McCoy and Addison Davis both hit doubles. McCoy was 1-for-3 with three runs and an RBI, while Davis was 2-for-2 with a run. Mackenzie Wilson was 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. The team had 15 RBIs on the day.
Maddy Cotsamire, Smith and Kayla Finch each pitched two innings, combining for five hits allowed, four walks and nine strikeouts with no earned runs.
For the Indians, Lillian Ward had two hits and three other Mount Gilead hitters connected for a hit apiece. Lindsey Ayers drove in the Indians' lone run. Greer Simpson and Ward both doubled.
Mount Vernon 7, West Homes 5
Brooke Dovenbarger and Meredith Jones both showed off their power in a 12-hit attack for Mount Vernon (12-5, 7-1), slugging their way to a 7-5 win over West Holmes (7-8, 4-6) on April 25.
In a game in which both teams committed five errors, it was timely hitting that won it for Mount Vernon. The Jackets got on the board with a pair of runs in the first on a walk to Kennedi Endsley, a stolen base, then a sacrifice bunt by Carly Kennedy, a two-out double by Hailey Rudrick and a run-scoring single by Dovenbarger.
After tacking on a second-inning run to make it 3-0, the Jackets gave up three runs to the Lady Knights to tie things at 3-3 on a three-run homer. Mount Vernon took the lead 4-3 in the third on a two-out Grace Bates single, and put the game away with a three-run fifth on back-to-back homers – a two-run bomb by Dovenbarger and a solo shot by Meredith Jones.
With the tying run at the plate in the seventh and one out for West Holmes, a sharp line drive was caught by Mount Vernon third baseman Presli Pope, who threw to first baseman Jones for the game-ending double play.
Dovenbarger led the Jackets' 12-hit effort with a homer, a double and a 3-for-3 day at the plate. Jones smacked her solo four-bagger and went 3-for-4, and Bates added two hits in three trips. Rudrick scored twice, as did Pope.
Addi Parker went all six innings in the circle and allowed five unearned runs on seven hits. She walked one and struck out three.
Highland 12, Galion 2
Stevie Asher was dominant in the pitching circle and at the dish for the Highland Fighting Scots (9-8, 7-3), smashing a homer and pitching a complete game in a 12-2 blowout win over Galion (4-9, 1-8) on April 25.
Highland started off the game with a two-run first, with Asher hot out of the gate. Pitching-wise, Asher struck out the side, and then on offense, she followed with a two-run homer.
While the Tigers cut the lead to one in the third, the Fighting Scots added two more runs in the bottom of the inning to go up 4-1. They then blew up for five runs in the fourth to make it a 9-1 lead. In the fifth, inning Galion put a run on the board, but Highland followed with three runs to secure a 10-run victory.
Asher went five innings, allowing five hits, one earned run, and two walks, while striking out eight batters.
At the plate, Asher drilled a double and a home run, going 2-for-4 on the day with four RBIs. Aubree Bellamy was 2-for-3 with a triple, a pair of RBIs and a pair of runs. Dalaynie Hernandez was 1-for-4 with a double and two RBIs in the win. Abbi Burke and Nikki Bennett also picked up hits. Highland had a total of nine hits in the game.
This was Senior Night for Highland as well, with coach Abby Steele saying the team came out amped up from the start.
“The Lady Scots came out with extra enthusiasm last night as it was Senior Night and we honored our four seniors, Stevie Asher, Abbi Burke, Guinevere Jackson and Abby Jordan,” Steele said.
Fredericktown 2, Northmor 1
Morgan Yoder was a force in the pitching circle in what was a duel between her and Kate Kissling of Northmor (6-5, 4-4), but Yoder was able to strike out eight on her way to a 2-1 victory for Fredericktown (6-13, 2-7) on April 24.
The game was scoreless until the third inning, when Fredericktown scored its only two runs of the day. Northmor responded with a run in the fourth inning, but it was all either team could muster against the pitchers, who were having their ways with the hitters.
Yoder pitched a complete seven innings, allowing only one unearned run, one walk and three hits to go with eight strikeouts.
Kissling allowed two earned runs, seven hits and struck out two.
Fredericktown had seven hits in the win, led by Julia Partington, who was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs. Jesenia Montalvo was 1-for-3 with a run scored and Angelina Spade was 1-for-2 with a run.
For Northmor, Raelyn Fulk was 1-for-3 with an RBI. Emily Zeger and McKenna VanDyke both went 1-for-3 for the other two hits.
East Knox 5, Cardington-Lincoln 0
Maddy Cotsamire was far too much for the Cardington-Lincoln (6-7, 5-3) batters to handle, as she was lights out in a two-hit shutout victory for East Knox (11-4, 4-4) on April 25.
Cotsamire went all seven innings, striking out four batters, allowing two hits with no walks and no runs allowed.
At the plate, Cotsamire was clutch as well, going 1-for-3 with a pair of RBIs. East Knox had five hits on the day with the others going to Baylee Comer, Shanda Melick, Kayla Finch and Mackenzie Wilson.
For Cardington-Lincoln, Kayden Burchett and Ari Simpson had the two hits, with both being singles.
Genevieve Longsdorf pitched well despite taking the loss, as she was hurt by fielding miscues with the Pirates tallying five errors. She allowed two earned runs, five hits and two walks while striking out 10 batters.
Danville 7, River Valley 0
Grace Gronberg spun a gem for Danville against River Valley on April 25, with the pitcher throwing a 13-strikeout, complete game two-hitter to lead the Blue Devils to a 7-0 win.
Danville went up 3-0 in the first and then added a run in the second to go up 4-0. After a scoreless third, the Blue Devils put two on the board in the fourth to make it 6-0. They added a run in the sixth and cruised to an easy win.
Gronberg pitched all seven innings and allowed only one walk on the day, to go with two hits allowed and 13 put down by way of the K.
Jaylyn Smith was 4-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored to lead the offense for Danville. Cordi Richert and Taryn Mickley both had a 2-for-4 day with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Richert also had a stolen base. Emily Weckesser had a double, going 1-for-3. Broegan Staats was 1-for-2 with a walk, an RBI, two runs and a steal. Danville piled on 10 hits in the win.
