Carson Francis, Contributor
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THE PLAINS — Athens has picked up right where it left off last season.
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
After going on an impressive tournament run and into a district final in 2022, the Bulldogs (9-0, 3-0 TVC-Ohio) have started the spring red-hot, a trend that continued on Monday.
Four different Bulldogs went yard as they made quick work of Nelsonville-York in a 13-2 TVC victory.
“We’re playing one game at a time,” Athens coach Roger Bissell said after the game. “Every pitcher we see is different. Our objective from day one has been working with adjustments and I feel like we did that tonight.”
The Bulldogs wasted no time getting adjusted at the plate.
After a quick out to start the bottom of the first inning, Kendra Hammonds found herself at the plate with two runners. With one swing, she cleared the ducks on the pond with a three-run bomb over the left field fence to put her team ahead 3-0.
But the Bulldogs were far from finished in the inning.
One after another, Ashleigh James, Ellie Beck-Aden, and Rylee Toadvine each hit solo home runs to give Athens a 6-0 lead heading into the second.
“Once one of us gets into a groove, everyone else gets one as well,” Hammonds said. “Once someone does well at the plate, it continues and we play really well as a team.”
The Buckeyes also had no answer for Athens’ high-powered offense in the second.
After going 1-2-3 in their own half, they surrendered another four runs, thanks to Beck-Aden, Kateyanne Walburn, and both Kayla and Kendra Hammonds all driving in runs to extend the margin to 10-0.
“I think we gel really well, both socially and on the field,” Rylee Toadvine said. “I think out of all 12 of our players, you could put anyone out there, in any position, and we would be completely fine.”
Nelsonville-York showed some life in the third. With two runners on and an out, Abby Riffle ripped an RBI double to put the Buckeyes on the board. Emmie Fowler followed with an RBI groundout to cut the deficit to a 10-2 margin.
After being held scoreless in the bottom of the third, Athens was not pleased and decided it needed to keep relying on each other to hold on for a victory.
“What I tell them all the time is that we’re better together,” Bissell said. “Whether you are on the field or in the dugout, we play as a team. I feel like we’ve been working on that a lot this year.”
In the bottom half of the fourth, the Bulldogs got their flow back on offense. With a runner on second and one out, Rylee Toadvine struck gold again for her second home run.
After a triple from Abbi Ervin, a single from Bailee Toadvine drove in the 13th, and final, run.
Rylee Toadvine and Kendra Hammonds spearheaded the offense in the win. While Toadvine went 3-for-3 with two home runs, a double, and three RBIs, Hammonds also had herself a night, going 2-for-4 with a home run, a single and four RBIs.
“They’ve both been stepping up in a big way in our wins,” Bissell said on Toadvine and Hammonds’ performances. “Rylee is only a sophomore, so it’s fun to watch her play, and Kendra is going to surprise a lot of people this year as well.”
Rounding things out for the Bulldogs, Beck-Aden was 2-for-2 with a home run and two RBIs, and Kayla Hammonds finished 2-for-2 with two doubles and an RBI. Ashleigh James also contributed at the plate as she went 1-for-3 with a solo home run.
While Nelsonville-York (2-6, 0-3 TVC-Ohio) attempts to lick its wounds, Athens is preparing for a few tests in the week ahead. After a dominant win over Marietta on Tuesday, the Bulldogs will host Vinton County on Wednesday before traveling to Wellston on Friday.
Despite having the top spot in the league and their undefeated campaign on the line, the Bulldogs remain unphased by the upcoming challenges.
“We have to keep our minds focused,” Kendra Hammonds said. “We can’t think that we’re playing any teams we can easily beat. Those games usually cause us to lose, so we just have to keep a good mindset.”
Tuesday: Athens 21, Marietta 3
The Bulldogs continued to look dominant in yet another run-rule win over Marietta on Tuesday, picking up their ninth win of the year.
Kayla Hammonds and Ashleigh James each led Athens at the dish, driving in a combined six runs. Hammonds was 1-for-5 with a double and three RBIs while James finished 1-for-2 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBIs.
In total, nine different Bulldogs picked up base hits — Hammonds, James, Bailee Toadvine, Kendra Hammonds, Kateyanne Walburn, Abbi Ervin, Rylee Toadvine, Ellie Beck-Adena and Fern Sigman.
In the circle, Hammonds picked up the win in four innings of work, allowing a single hit and striking out five.
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