The season came to a close for all coverage-area high school softball teams in the OHSAA softball championships.
Highland advanced to the regional semifinals but was eliminated; Mount Vernon, East Knox and Danville made it to the district championships, and were defeated.
No. 8 Highland 5, No. 1 Jonathan Alder 3
No. 8 Highland (14-11, 8-5) plowed forward in playoff softball, sealing a 5-3 win over No. 1 Jonathan Alder (20-6, 10-3) in an upset, comeback victory to take the Division II, Region 8 title on May 20.
Jonathan Alder started with a two-run first inning to take an early lead and added a run in the fourth to make it a 3-0 game. However, the Lady Scots battled and put a three-spot on the board in the sixth inning to tie the game. Highland took the lead in the top of the seventh on a two-run single by Stevie Asher. The Pioneers threatened in the bottom of the seventh as they had the bases loaded, but Asher pitched her way out of it to secure the victory.
Asher picked up the win in a seven-inning effort where she struck out seven batters, walked four, gave up three runs with two earned and scattered six hits.
Highland had five hits on the day, with Asher and Guinevere Jackson both going 2-for-4 to lead the charge. Asher had two RBIs and Jackson crossed the plate twice, while also stealing a bag. Dalaynie Hernandez went 1-for-3 in the game. Also scoring runs were Aubree Bellamy, Kate Clements and Brianna Tuggle.
Highland moved on to play No. 1 Springfield Kenton Ridge in the regional semifinals.
No. 1 Springfield Kenton Ridge 5, No. 8 Highland 0
It took until the fourth inning for the Lady Scots (14-12, 8-5) to get a hit, and that was all they would manage all game, as No. 1 Kenton Ridge’s (22-6, 9-2) Kylie Ropp dominated in a complete game, one-hit shutout for a 5-0 win in the regional semifinals of the Division II, Region 8 tournament on May 24.
Kenton Ridge had the bases loaded in the first inning and was looking to do early damage, but Highland ace Stevie Asher was able to get out of the jam and keep the game scoreless. It remained scoreless until the top of the third inning when Highland allowed an unearned run to make it 1-0, Kenton Ridge.
The Scots went down in order in the bottom of the third, and in the top of the fourth, the Cougars tacked on three runs to take a 4-0 lead. In the bottom of the fourth, the Lady Scots got their only hit, a single by Kate Clements, but otherwise were set down without harm. Kenton Ridge added another run in the fifth inning for insurance, and with Ropp lights-out in the circle, the Cougars were able to hold on for the shutout.
Asher pitched well despite the loss, going all seven innings and allowing only five hits and one earned run, while walking five and striking out 10 batters. Clements was 1-for-3 in the game and the only other baserunner for Highland was Aubree Bellamy, who walked in the seventh inning.
Highland was having a Cinderella story in the playoffs as they upset No. 2 Granville for the district title and then No. 1 Jonathan Alder to reach the semifinal game, both in comeback fashion.
No. 1 Johnstown-Monroe 1, No. 6 East Knox 0
No. 6 East Knox’s (18-7, 6-6) Maddy Cotsamire and Macy Walters of Johnstown-Monroe (25-2, 15-1) battled in a pitchers duel, but Walters and the No. 1 Johnies squeaked by with a 1-0 win in the district finals of the Division III, Region 10 tournament on May 20.
Johnstown-Monroe’s lone run came in the third inning, with Dakota Staffan hitting an RBI single.
Gracie Sheasby had a 3-for-3 day for the Bulldogs, including a double. Cotsamire, Hannah McCoy, Mackenzie Wilson and Kayla Finch all had hits as well, with Wilson belting a double.
Cotsamire went all six innings for East Knox, striking out five while walking a batter, allowing four hits and only one unearned run. Walter had a complete game with nine strikeouts, seven hits and a walk.
No. 4 Newark Catholic 13, No. 2 Danville 2
No. 2 Danville (19-7, 8-4) was cruising through the Division IV, Region 15 softball tournament and looking to secure their eighth-straight district title, but No. 4 Newark Catholic (20-9-1, 8-6-1) had something to say about that, exploding offensively for a 13-2 win in a five-inning, mercy-rule shortened game on May 20.
Maris Knowlton of Newark Catholic was the dagger for the Green Wave, missing the cycle by only a home run.
Emily Weckesser had a homer for Danville in the loss.
Before being blown out by Newark Catholic, Danville was playing strong softball. They beat No. 3 Berne Union 9-5 and before that had a 9-2 win over Ridgedale. Newark Catholic previously beat No. 1 Mechanicsburg 9-4 in the district title game.
No. 1 Watkins Memorial 6, No. 7 Mount Vernon 1
No. 1 Watkins Memorial (26-1, 12-1) showed why they are the top seed in the Division I, Region 3 state tournament, holding No. 7 Mount Vernon (21-8, 11-3) to a pair of hits in a 6-1 win to take the district title on May 19.
The Warriors put two runs on the board in the first and then again in the second to take an early 4-0 lead. They then tacked on a run in the fourth and fifth innings to go up 6-0. The Yellow Jackets got on the board in the sixth inning, but it was too little, too late and the Warriors were able to secure the win.
Watkins Memorial had their offense working with 10 hits, led by a three-hit day for Angela Langwasser and Jordyn Wycuff. McKayla Jellison homered for the Warriors and Taylor Gerhardt had a two-RBI day.
Mount Vernon never truly threatened as they were held to two hits, a walk and a hit batter in the loss. Their lone run in the sixth inning came when Kennedi Endsley doubled for their first hit of the day and only third base runner of the game. Carly Kennedy followed with a bunt single to put runners at first and third. McKenzie Krownapple knocked in the run on a sacrifice fly to left. A pickoff play ended the game for Mount Vernon.
Endsley and Kennedy had the only hits in the game for the Yellow Jackets, and Endsley also walked. Hailey Rudrick was hit by a pitch.
Before losing in the district title game, Mount Vernon defeated No. 16 Olentangy Orange 6-3 and also No. 36 Dublin Coffman 12-3. Watkins Memorial previously beat No. 26 New Albany 5-0 and No. 33 Thomas Worthington 13-0.
