The second week of the North Central Ohio Summer League saw Danville playing a doubleheader against Johnstown, which was coming off a season in which it advanced to the Final Four in the playoffs. The North Central Ohio Summer League is an eight-team competition that includes Centerburg, Danville, Loudonville, Ashland Crestview, Johnstown, Northwestern, Norwayne and Mapleton.
Johnstown went 27-3 during the season and was 14-1 in Licking County play, while Danville went 19-7 overall and 8-4 in KMAC play and began the summer league with a split against Mapleton.
In Game 1 against Johnstown, the Blue Devils faced Johnstown right-hander Macy Walters, an Akron University signee. Walters went 16-2 during the high school season, struck out 227 batters and walked only 27 in 127 innings with a 0.99 earned run average. Danville softball coach Charlie Duncan said Walters pitched in Johnstown’s semifinal game and had a perfect game going through five innings. She then suffered a knee injury that ended her time in the circle, and Johnstown ended up losing 3-0.
“I think they had a shot at winning it if she didn’t get hurt,” Duncan said.
In the twin bill against the Johnnies, Danville tied the first game 3-3 and lost the nightcap 5-3.
In the opener, Addison Mickley led off the bottom of the first with a double off the fence, and a one-out error plated Danville’s first run. A sacrifice fly by Addy Bocock made it 2-0 and an error a Johnstown error led to another run to make it 3-0 Blue Devils. A pair of two-out hits by Ruby Bartok and Abi Sapp (a double) threatened for Danville, but a hard groundout ended the rally. Johnstown tied it with a three-run third – on a three-run home run by Walters – and the game ended after five at 3-3.
“Abi Sapp and Ruby Bartok both had quality hits for us,” Duncan said. “Pitchers Addy Bocock [who had four strikeouts in two perfect innings] and Alicia Humphrey did a great job on the mound.”
In Game 2, Johnstown took a 1-0 lead in the first, but Danville came back with two the home half of the inning. Taylor Johnston led off with a single and Taylor Meade followed with a walk. An error scored the first run and Bartok singled in the second.
The Johnnies added two each in the second and third for a 5-2 lead. Danville got one back in the fourth on a home run by Bartok, but that was it, and the game ended 5-3 in favor of the Johnnies.
“Taylor Johnston came up with two big hits and stole a couple bags in the game, and Ruby Bartok came through with another long homer again this week.” Duncan said. “I was very impressed with defensive play from incoming freshmen Ella Payne, AlesaAnn Rainer and Saydie Presley.”
Duncan is enthusiastic about the league and his team’s work.
“It was nice to get some quality work in against a really good team,” he said. “I really enjoy seeing our younger girls, and girls playing new positions, getting in reps. It’s about growth and learning. I’m already impressed with the leadership I’m seeing in my upper-class players and the team chemistry this group has shown.”
