Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
RIO GRANDE — Three years ago, Valley hobbled into the postseason needing to find a player to field a full team.
The Indians’ seniors haven’t forgotten that, or their humble beginnings.
So when they raised up a district championship trophy on Thursday — the program’s first since 2018 — it meant that much more.
“I’m just so excited,” Valley senior Emilie Johnson said. “When we were freshmen, we went into the tournament with eight players. We had to pick a girl up that had never played before. We won a sectional that year. But to be here now after winning a district, it’s just blowing my mind.”
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
Johnson was nothing short of superb all night long.
She was the straw that stirred the drink, both in the circle and at the dish. The Indians’ chief spun a complete game, surrendering just three hits and striking out nine while going 2-for-2 with a double, a run scored and an RBI.
But most importantly, when things got rocky, she was the team’s calm in the storm.
“She’s been amazing,” Valley coach Kayla Taulbee said of Johnson. “She’s been dominant in the circle but she’s also scary in the box. But she just leads her team well. They feed off her. They thrive off of her energy, and she’s never down, no matter the circumstances. She’s just been an amazing leader and someone a coach loves to have.”
Valley (17-8) struck first in the bottom half of the first inning.
Ryleigh Weeks reached base on error before Johnson tripled to bring her home, making it 1-0. Johnson then scored on a wild pitch, pushing the lead to two runs.
After Johnson hung another goose egg in the second, Valley played add-on at the plate. Braxtyn Holbrook started the at-bat with a double before moving to third on a groundout. She then scored on a fielding error for a 3-0 tally.
The Indians’ final run came in the third.
Johnson singled into center field, which was followed by a walk to Karsyn Davis. Both runners advanced 60 feet on a wild pitch before Holbrook knocked in Johnson with an RBI groundout, furthering the edge to 4-0.
“Emilie and I, as well as Karsyn Davis, have been team captains for two years now. It was extremely important for us to jump on them early,” Holbrook said. “Once we get on base early, I feel like the rest of the team follows behind.”
However, that was the final run Valley scored. It was also the point where the Vikings (20-7) started to throw a counter-punch.
PHOTOS: Images from Valley’s district championship win over Symmes Valley
Desiree Simpson started SV’s fourth inning at-bat with a single before another single from Marley Ferguson. On the play, a throwing error allowed Simpson to score, cutting the Indians’ lead to 4-1.
Savannah Mart then walked, moving Ferguson to second, before a second error allowed her score and cut a four-run lead in half.
Johnson then worked out of the jam, inducing a pop-up to end the inning. But it was undoubtedly gut check time for her and her teammates.
“It was just like, ‘Hey guys, we’re still ahead two runs.’ We felt the momentum shift but we talked about getting it back that inning,” Taulbee said. “There are nerves going on. We understand that. So to just keep the momentum on our side instead of giving it up for good, that was huge. That’s what they did.”
Valley failed to score in the bottom of the fourth but Johnson, and a superb defense behind her, halted all of SV’s momentum in the top of the fifth. The Indians needed just eight pitches to retire the Vikings’ 9-1-2 hitters in order, effectively stealing the wind from their sails.
Those three hitters were the start of a string of nine SV hitters retired in order, the last of which sent the Indians to the Sweet 16.
“The first year I came in, it was picking up pieces, trying to find out how to get better,” Taulbee said. “The first day I was here, I told the girls that we were just trying to get better every day, every month and every year. We didn’t make it out of the sectional my first year here, then we won a sectional title and now we’re winning a district. All the hard work they’ve put in really shows.”
Statistically, following Johnson’s magnificent night, was Holbrook, who finished 2-for-3 with a double, a run and an RBI. Addy Conaway also helped out, going 2-for-3.
Brenn Tibbs picked up the loss for SV, going the distance and surrendering three earned runs on seven hits while fanning seven hitters. Simpson and Ferguson were responsible for the team’s only two base hits.
Valley now advances to a Division IV regional semifinal at 5 p.m., Wednesday at Pickerington North High School. The Indians will meet with Strasburg-Franklin, a 10-0 winner over Caldwell.
The Tigers are the defending state champions, so the Indians won’t be favored.
But Goliath has fallen before.
“At this point, it’s just about reps and the girls being confident in themselves,” Taulbee said. “That’s the biggest part. Late in the season, you have to feel like you belong there. There’s a reason we were the second seed in our district. If we play how we should, we can play with anybody.”
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