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AKRON — 31 teams have tried, and 31 teams have failed.
CREDIT: Brock Netter/SOSA
Now one game stands between Wheelersburg and back-to-back state championships.
The Pirates (31-0) scored early and often, instantly seizing momentum and never let up. The result was a 6-1 win over Canfield South Range on Thursday in a Division III state semifinal.
“We were a little worried coming in since we’re playing on turf now and it’s a completely different speed alongside the heat,” Wheelersburg coach Teresa Ruby said. “Luckily Rock Hill allowed us to practice on their turf field. The main thing for us in the game was getting past (South Range pitcher Juli Stachowicz) and putting the ball in play. We executed very well at the plate, didn’t waste too many runners on base and I’m happy with how we played.”
After retiring South Range in order in the first inning, Wheelersburg wasted no time gracing the scoreboard as Catie Boggs muscled an RBI single into right field, making it 1-0.
Ava Estep scored that first run, and added to the lead in the next inning. With two runners on and two outs, she ripped a two-run double to left field, extending the Pirates’ lead to 3-0.
The Pirate defense behind Andi Jo Howard continued racking up the outs, featuring stellar plays from Emma Smith at second base and Rileigh Lang in right field.
“It fuels me so much when I look out and they’re both making plays, it makes me want to work even harder,” Howard said. “It also gives me the luxury of knowing I can pitch whatever I want and I know my defense has my back. I think we have not just the best defense in Ohio, and possibly in the nation.”
Macee Eaton led off the bottom of the fourth and took the first pitch over the left field fence for her 15th home run this season. That solo bomb was then followed by an RBI single from Sydney Skiver for a 5-0 advantage.
Wheelersburg then decided to play small ball game in the bottom of the fifth. After Eaton legged out a triple, Boggs laid down a successful suicide squeeze for a bunt RBI single, pushing the edge to 6-0.
South Range (26-4) began to fight back in the top of the fifth. Ashley Rupert logged an RBI single that cut the deficit to 6-1. However, with two runners on, the Raiders flew out to Lang, ending the threat.
The Raiders had a huge chance in the top of the sixth to cut into the lead. They managed to load the bases, sparking Wheelersburg to make a pitching change.
Enter Kaylynn Carter.
The sophomore hurler managed to induce a pop out to end the inning, before finishing the game off in the seventh to punch the Pirates’ ticket back to the state championship game.
“It’s always a tough decision about when or if to make a pitching change, but I talked with Jo earlier, she told me she was getting a little tired from the heat,” Ruby said. “We’ve used Kaylynn in situations like this before, and it’s a nice luxury to have a righty and a lefty. They both throw different dynamic pitches and it keep hitting off balance after seeing the same pitcher three times.”
Estep finished the game 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, followed by Eaton going 2-for-4 with a home run, a triple and an RBI. Skiver was 1-for-3 with an RBI and Boggs was 1-for-2 with two RBIs, while Howard earned the win in the circle, throwing 5 2/3 innings, allowing an earned run and striking out four batters.
Wheelersburg will now play for the Division III state championship at 10 a.m. on Saturday at Akron’s Firestone Stadium against Indian Lake, who defeated Johnstown to advance.
“We have to go in knowing that we can win again after doing it last year,” Lang said. “We have the power, we have the defense, we have everything we need to get it done.”
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