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ATHENS — Seven inning games and Wheelersburg don’t mix very well, which is something the Pirates don’t mind.
They handled their business early, dominated and clocked out. It’s what they’ve done throughout the tournament and Wednesday was no different.
Powered by a two-hit day from Ava Estep, the Pirates (22-2) jumped all over Meadowbrook and extended their season with a 12-2 victory over the Colts in a Division III regional semifinal at Ohio University.
CREDIT: Seth Fain/SOSA
“Ava is a big-game player, and we’re somewhat familiar with Meadowbrook from playing them last year,” Wheelersburg coach Teresa Ruby said. “We did our scouting and a little more work this time to prepare ourselves and make sure the girls were comfortable, which shows on the field with the final results.”
Wheelersburg started quickly, but also got a little help from Meadowbrook.
After a leadoff single from Estep, the Colts committed a throwing error during the next at-bat that allowed her to score to go up 1-0.
After Meadowbrook went down in order in the bottom half, the Pirates began to create separation in the second inning.
They quickly loaded the bases, and then drew a walk. That paved the way for Estep to step back to the plate and unload the bases with a grand slam to left field, extending the lead to 6-0.
“Every time I come up to bat, I’ve got to set the tone. If the first pitch was there, I wasn’t taking it,” Estep said. “It wasn’t there, so I stayed patient but got a second strike called on me. So I took the very next pitch, it looked good and I hit it out.”
With their foot firmly on the gas, the Pirates continued to add to the lead in the third.
Following back-to-back hits from Andi Jo Howard and Kaylynn Carter to open the inning, Laken Wright delivered an RBI single. Carter then scored on a throwing error in the next at-bat, pushing the lead up to 8-0.
“Losing Macee Eation from last year, everyone had some questions about how do you replace her,” Ruby said. “But Laken has done an incredible job this year. She’s put in the time, she works very hard and it’s her turn. She’s batting over .500 this year, delivers a lot of timely at-bats and has been a huge addition to the lineup.”
The Colts couldn’t get out of their own way and committed a fielding error that scored a Pirate runner. Another run crossed the dish on a passed ball, which was followed by Haley Myers laying down a sacrifice bunt to drive in another run, making it an 11-0 game.
Meadowbrook later showed some signs of life and got on the board with a two-run single from McKendell Boyer, cutting the deficit to 11-2.
However, the damage was already done and Wright put the dagger in with an RBI single before the Pirates closed out a win and clinched their spot in a regional final.
Estep finished 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs to lead the Pirates. Wright added two hits and two RBIs, and Myers had an RBI as well.
Wheelersburg advances to a Division III regional final at 5 p.m. on Friday back at Ohio University against South Webster, who defeated Coal Grove to move on.
“We just have to play the way we have been for the last month,” Myers said of Friday’s matchup. “We’re hitting the ball, pitching well and playing really good defense. Coach Ruby always says to limit teams to three outs and if we do that, then we’ll be good.”
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