ELM GROVE — Ohio brought its bats to the annual OVAC Tom Bechtel All-Star Softball Game Monday night.
The Buckeye State squad pounded out 13 safeties, including four in a five-run eighth inning that broke open a tight game for a 10-2 victory on Lisa’s Field at the J.B. Chambers I-470 Ballfields.
Clinging to a slim 2-1 advantage entering the top of the eighth, Ohio sent nine batters to the plate in upping the margin to 7-1.
“We strung some hits together and got some runs in,” Martin Ferry’s Jerry Magistro, one of four Ohio coaches, said. “It was a heck of a game. Our pitching was really good and we had a couple of good defensive plays that helped.
“You want to go out and have fun in a game like this. I think the girls all had fun and did so by winning,” Magistro added.
Edison’s Rebecca Evans drew a leadoff walk and Cambridge’s Jazz Bell followed suit to jump-start the eruption. Caldwell’s Katie Franklin tried to advance the runners with a bunt, but she popped in up in front of the plate and Linsly catcher Alayna Cook made a spectacular diving catch to prevent the runners from going anywhere. However, Indian Creek’s Trinity Taylor lined a shot down the right field line that chased home Evans and Bell for a two-run double. Toronto’s Michelle Anderson ripped a single up the middle as Taylor raced home. Anderson would come around on a double to right-center by Beallsville’s Kinley Hughes, who was thrown out trying for a triple. Union Local’s Lauren Miller reached on an error and stole second. She would score when Caldwell’s Jadyn Haught singled through the right side of the infield to make it 7-1.
The Buckeyes tacked on three more runs in the ninth when Barnesville’s Ellie Thompson singled leading off. With two out, Warren Local’s Mya Miller reached on an error as Thompson crossed the plate before Edison’s Pressley Meadows ripped a run-scoring single to center. She would score on an error.
Meadows accounted for Ohio’s first run with a solo home run to deep left in the fourth.
W.Va. drew even when Madonna’s Carmella Pulice grounded out but University’s Ashlyn Warner scored on the play.
Ohio went back ahead in the sixth with a pair of two-out singles by Cambridge’s Abby Mann and Caldwell’s Sydney Saling. There was a walk to Haught in between as Saling’s hit to left plated Mann.
W.Va. got its second run in the bottom of the ninth with one out when Linsly’s Gia Recrosio reached on an error and raced around the bases on a double to the corner in left by Morgantown’s Emily Peterson.
Four Ohio pitchers limited W.Va. to just five hits – two by Warner of the Class AAA state champion Hawks. Mann recorded the win inside the circle as she hurled the fifth sixth innings, striking out two and walking one. The Buckeyes combined for eight Ks and three free passes.
The Mountaineers had three pitchers toe the rubber. They teamed for 11 punchouts and five base-on-balls.
“It was a good game. It’s all about having fun, and I think all of the girls did that,” Morgantown head coach Lorri Lipscomb said of the W.Va. players. “The camaraderie in the dugout was great. That’s what it’s all about.”
EXTRA INNINGS
–The OVAC Players of the Year in each of the five classes were presented with plaques during breaks in the action. The five were Conotton Valley’s Masey Baker (1A); Toronto’s Michelle Anderson (2A); Wheeling Central’s Josie Frizzell (3A); Indian Creek’s Trinity Taylor (4A); and John Marshall’s Ava Blake (5A).
–The OVAC Coach of the Year was also recognized. Morgantown’s Lori Lipscomb received a plaque for leading the fourth-seeded Mohigans to the Class 5A Championship.
–Special recognition was given to umpires Norm Whitlatch and Dan Delande for their lifetime of service to the OVAC. Unfortunately, Delande passed away last Thursday.
By KIM NORTH/The Intelligencer
BOX SCORE
OVAC All-Star Softball Game
(at Lisa’s Field, I-470 Complex)
Ohio 10, W.Va. 2
Ohio 000 101 053 – 10 13 3
W.Va. 000 100 001 – 2 5 4
OH–Taylor (2K, 0BB), Ellis (3), 0K, 2BB), Mann wp (5), (2K, 1BB), Meadows (7), (3K, 0BB), Taylor (9), (0K, 0BB) and Anderson, Miller (3), Evans (7), Anderson (9); Taylor D, 2rbi; Anderson S, rbi; Hughes D, rbi; Haught S, rbi; Saling 2S, rbi; Meadows S, HR, 2rbi
WV–Wilson (5K, 1BB), Foresha (3), (3K, 0BB), Cumberledge lp (5), (1K, 1BB), Wilson (8), (2K, 2BB), Cumberledge (9), (0K, 0BB) and Cook, Kozlowski (3), Cook (4); Peterson D, rbi; Warner 2S; Pulice rbi
