The No 11 Utica Redskins are sectional champs after wins over Centerburg and Grandview Heights in the first two rounds of the Division III, Central 2 playoffs.

Cheyenne Smith dominated in the pitching circle for the No. 11 Utica softball team in the opening round of the playoffs, throwing a complete game to beat No. 13 Centerburg 3-1 on May 6.

Smith allowed three hits and two walks, while striking out four and giving up one earned run over seven innings.

Centerburg took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a solo shot by Chesnee Fairall. The Trojans would hold this lead until the fifth inning, when Emily Meyers tied the game on an RBI single. Lauren Schmidt later hit a two run double to go up 3-1, and the Redskins held on the rest of the way for the win.

Utica tallied nine hits in the game, led by Hannah Shaver’s 3-for-3 day. Meyers was 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI and Schmidt drove in two runs and had the team’s only extra-base hit with a double.

Centerburg had three hits by Abby Herren, Taylor Bryant and Fairall. Sara Stowe got the loss, but pitched well. She allowed three earned runs, nine hits and two walks over five and one-third innings.

On May 8, Utica won the Sectional Final 21-6, beating No. 9 Grandview Heights in an upset victory.

The Redskins had 18 hits in the win, led by Meyers who was 4-for-4 with seven RBIs, and a homer and a double. Smith was 3-for-3 with a double and four RBIs. Shaver went 1-for-3 with a double, a run and an RBI. Kaitlin Evans hit a double and went 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs.

Smith got the win, going three innings, allowing three runs but none earned, two hits and two walks. 

Next up is No. 2 Cardington-Lincoln in the District Semifinals on May 13. The Pirates previously beat No. 22 Harvest Prep in a 30-0 romp where they did not allow a baserunner in a perfect game by Genevieve Longsdorf.