Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
CHILLICOTHE — In recent memory, the postseason hasn’t been too kind to Chillicothe’s softball program.
Going into Wednesday night, the Cavaliers had not won a tournament game since 2021 and, to further drive home that point, they had not advanced in a Division I tournament since 2012.
Needless to say, they were hungry to finally see some postseason success and behind CJ Rittinger in the circle and Bree Cousins at the dish, the Cavaliers feasted.
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
Chillicothe put both droughts to rest in a 10-0 win over Dublin Jerome in a Division I sectional semifinal, a dominant performance fueled by two of their youngsters.
Rittinger, a freshman, tossed five shutout innings while Cousins, a sophomore, delivered five RBIs to lift the team’s efforts.
“In the Division I tournament, this is our first win since 2012,” Rittinger said. “This is really big for us, because it’s our first winning season together, too.”
While neither team got anything going in the first frame, Rittinger got things started offensively for Chillicothe in the bottom of the second with a lead-off triple. A passed ball during the next at-bat brought her home, putting the Cavs out to an early 1-0 advantage.
Rittinger then sat Dublin Jerome down in order in the top of the third, and her team went back to work offensively in the bottom half.
After two quick outs, the Cavaliers placed two runners on base after a single from Morgan Webb and a walk from Alyssa Dudley. That brought Rittinger back up to the plate, and she delivered once again, loggin an RBI single to extend the lead to 2-0.
An error on the next at-bat brought in another run for Chillicothe, making it 3-0.
And, even though it was only the third inning, the Cavaliers were looking for a knockout punch.
Cousins answered that call.
With two on and two outs, Cousins blasted a pitch over the right-center field wall for a three-run home run — an absolute laser – capping off a five-run frame for Chillicothe and pushing the advantage to 6-0.
“I’ve been in a slump, so I was thinking, ‘Calm and patient,'” Cousins said. “Normally, before I go up to bat, one of my teammates will shake my helmet and it just gets me going. They all have my back all the time.”
After Rittinger threw two more shutout innings, the Cavaliers put the nails in the coffin in the fifth and Cousins held the hammer.
With another two ducks on the pond, the sophomore singled to bring both runners home, making it 8-0. Natalie Dudley, who pinch ran for Cousins, came around to score before Bayleigh Mankin drove in Chillicothe’s 10th, and final, run, putting an end to a long-awaited tournament win.
“I feel like we hit really good tonight to make it to where we are right now,” Cousins said. “We played clean tonight and I’m proud of us.”
Rittinger went all five innings in the circle, allowing just two hits and striking out five batters, holding Dublin Jerome to a goose egg. She also went 2-for-2 at the dish with a triple, an RBI single, and a walk.
“When I pitch, I try not to think about anything,” Rittinger said. “I’m talking to myself on the mound and I feel like I just do better. It’s the same with hitting.”
Cousins had a monstrous day at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 with a home run and 5 RBIs. Five other Cavalier hitters all finished 1-for-3 with singles.
Chillicothe returns to action Thursday, hosting Westerville Central at 5 p.m. in a Division I sectional final. A win would mark the program’s first sectional crown since 2010.
“We’re going to approach tomorrow night coming off this big win with the same energy and level of intensity as we did today,” Rittinger added. “We want to get another big win for Chillicothe.”
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