Danville splits with Mapleton to start summer league play
The high school athletic year is over, but several local teams continue to play in summer leagues.
In softball, Centerburg, Danville and Loudonville are playing in the eight-team North Central Ohio (NCO) Summer League that includes Ashland Crestview, Johnstown, Northwestern, Norwayne and Mapleton.
During the high school season, Centerburg finished 10-2 in KMAC and 20-7 overall, Danville went 8-4 in KMAC play and 19-7 overall. Loudonville, which played in Mid-Buckeye competition but will be joining the KMAC, went 16-7 during the season.
According to Danville coach Charlie Duncan, the OHSAA allows schools to use 13 days from June to August 1. The NCO Summer League plays games on Tuesdays for six weeks, and Duncan said the teams change from year to year due to interest or available players.
“It's a great way to see what next year's team looks like and how we will jell with the incoming freshman players,” Duncan said.
In the first week of play, Danville split a pair against the Mapleton Mounties on June 30, dropping the opener 5-3 and taking the nightcap 7-0.
Mapleton went up 2-0 after two and 4-0 after three in Game 1, but Danville answered with a three-run fourth on a pair of walks, a groundout and a couple of errors to close within one. The Mounties, however, closed it out 5-3. Danville managed only three hits, two by Addy Bocock and one by Emily Weckesser.
The Blue Devils led Game 2 from start to finish after scoring two in the first, a run in the second and two each in the third and fourth. Ruby Bartok and Alicia Humphrey combined to allow only one hit over four innings. Bartok also homered and Humphrey connected for three hits.
“Our first game was against a very talented Mapleton team,” Duncan said. “It was good to see our girls back out there getting to work. We have five seniors returning next season, which is the most I have had since being head coach. It was good to see them lead and show the new players how we do things and encourage them to get better every inning.”
Reflecting on next season, Duncan said he was enthusiastic about the summer league opening and what lies ahead for the Blue Devils. “Grace Gronberg, Emily Weckesser, Jaylin Smith, Broegan Staats and Taylor Price all did a great job in the first summer games and I look forward to what they have to bring next year,” he said. “Sophomore Addy Bocock started the summer off strong with two hits and had five strikeouts and one walk in two innings of work on the mound. Alicia Humphrey, who missed most of last season with a knee injury, has come back strong with four hits in the two games we played. Ruby Bartok added a monster 2-run home run that cleared the deep left-field fence. Freshman Kenzie Staats added two hits in her high school debut. Freshman Saydie Presley had her first varsity hit and newcomers Taylor Johnston and Merista Brown each had a hit a piece.”
