Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
CHILLICOTHE — Last year marked —arguably — the best season in Unioto’s softball history as the Shermans captured their first district title since 1995.
This spring has been about building off of that momentum. On Wednesday, the Tanks took their first big step in doing so on Wednesday.
With the SVC title already in its back pocket, Unioto (19-3, 14-0 SVC) wanted perfection. The Shermans scored early and never looked back, making quick work of Adena in an 11-1 victory.
The victory marks the program’s first Gold Ball season since 1998.
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
“Getting a huge win like this on our home field, in what could be our last time playing here, is incredibly special and a huge accomplishment,” Unioto’s Hannah Hull said. “It’s definitely one of the best feelings as a person, and as a team, that we’ve felt. I wouldn’t trade this feeling, this game or anything for the world. I’d relive it 100 times over.”
Hull was masterful inside the circle, tossing all five innings and allowing just three hits on the evening. And, as usual, it also helped to have one of the top defenses in Southeast Ohio backing her up, making life that much easier.
Whether it was diving stops from Emma Specht and Haylee Hull, or Ava Dettwiller literally doing the splits for outs at first base, it was clear from the get-go that the Warriors (18-5, 11-3 SVC) were in for a long night.
“I’ve been locked in for this game since [Tuesday’s] practice. I just knew we were all wanting this one really bad,” Hull said. “This defense is the best I’ve ever had. I wouldn’t trade anyone and there’s a level of confidence I have in them to make the plays behind me no matter what.”
While the defense rose to the occasion, so did Megan Miller.
The senior was the star of the show at the dish with a 3-for-3, four-RBI day. But she wasn’t the one to begin the festivities.
On the second pitch she saw in the bottom of the first inning, Alexis Book crushed a solo shot over the center field fence to put Unioto ahead 1-0. Two batters later, Miller followed suit with a solo bomb to the same area, pushing the lead to 2-0.
The Shermans were far from finished and got a little help from the Warriors. With two runners on and two outs, a fielding error allowed another run to score, extending the lead to 3-0.
That was the beginning of the end for Adena.
Miller came back to the plate in the bottom of the second with a pair of runners on, and roped a two-run single into right field, pushing the lead to 5-0.
Hull added onto the lead in the next inning with an RBI double to left field before scoring on the next at-bat — an RBI double from Peyton Robinson, who later scored on a passed ball to make it an 8-0 game.
Abbie Marshall then notched an RBI groundout before another passed ball plated another runner for a 10-0 score. That’s when Miller stepped back up and took a 2-0 pitch on a ride over the left field fence for her second bomb of the day.
“My approach at the plate is pretty simple. If it looks like a strike, then I’m swinging the bat,” Miller said. “Those two pitches were exactly what I was looking for and I just took advantage of it. This was easily the best game that we’ve played all season. We came in ready to play and knew exactly what we were going to do. It’s an amazing feeling to win the Gold Ball.”
Adena managed a run in the top of the fifth, thanks to a Unioto fielding error, but lined out to end the game as Unioto celebrated a perfect SVC season with a bang.
Following Miller’s day at the dish, Robinson finished 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI while Marshall was also 2-for-3 with an RBI. Book was 1-for-2 with a home run and an RBI.
For Adena, Adriana Guarnieri finished 1-for-2 with a run scored.
Unioto returns to action on Friday to end its regular season at Fairfield. Meanwhile, Adena hosts Fairfield on Thursday and Circleville on Friday to end its regular season slate.
“I think we’re completely confident that we can make a long run in the tournament again since we have the experience of playing all of those great players and great teams from last year,” Miller said. “We’re comfortable in those moments and as long as we execute and play with the same energy like we did today, then we’ll be fine.”
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