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CHILLICOTHE — When you’re the defending state champion, you’re going to get every opponent’s best shot.
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
That’s exactly what Wellston gave Wheelersburg on Sunday afternoon in a Division III district championship.
However, as valiant as the Rockets’ effort was, the Pirates (28-0) managed to absorb punches and — eventually — deliver a knockout blow to keep their hopes of a second consecutive state title alive by a 9-6 final at Unioto High School.
“I thought Wellston gave us everything we wanted,” Wheelersburg coach Teresa Ruby said. “We came up with some timely hitting, but I think we lost some opportunities and didn’t have some good at-bats with runners in scoring position. We had a chance to really put ourselves out there early but we let [Wellston] back in.”
Wheelersburg graced the scoreboard quickly, scoring twice in the first inning.
After Ava Estep worked a four-pitch walk to begin the at-bat, she advanced to second before scoring on an RBI double via Haley Myers.
Myers then scored when Catie Boggs singled with a ball that went down the left field line, making it 2-0.
In the second, the Pirates played add-on when Laken Wright walked before scoring on an error. Macee Eaton then knocked in a pair with a two-run double, pushing the lead to 5-0.
The Rockets (19-7) answered in the third with two runs of their own.
Chloie Burgett singled, advanced to third and scored on a passed ball, cutting the deficit to 5-1. Allison Kilgour then tallied an RBI single to make it 5-2.
And, to Wheelersburg’s disliking, momentum stayed on Wellston’s side throughout the fourth.
Mykenna Eberts reached base on a fielder’s choice before scoring on an RBI single from Burgett, cutting the Pirates’ lead to 5-3 and continuing to put pressure on Wheelersburg’s offense to purchase insurance.
However, in the fifth, the Pirates went shopping for just that and took charge for good.
After a single from Haley Myers started the inning, Eaton and Boggs stepped to the dish and powered back-to-back jacks over the outfield fence for, all of the sudden, an 8-3 tally.
“It’s the energy that [Eaton and Boggs] generate,” Ruby said. “When they do well, it flows through the lineup. Catie has really improved this year and that’s saying a lot because she was already good. She’s done a lot of work and development and you can see it this year. You put those two together and, don’t forget, you have Andi Jo [Howard] behind them, it’s a pretty powerful middle of the lineup.”
Wellston, understandably, was in shock. But the Rockets didn’t go away.
After Rileigh Lang made it a 9-3 lead with a sacrifice fly, Wellston freshman catch Maddie Childers launched a two-run home run to make it 9-5. Then, in the seventh, Hannah Potts hit a solo homer, cutting the lead to 9-6.
In total, the Rockets actually outhit Wheelersburg by a 10-7 tally. But they couldn’t string together hits, leaving six runners stranded on the base paths.
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
That’s credit to Wheelersburg pitchers Andi Jo Howard and Kaylynn Carter, who came on in relief. While it wasn’t perfect, the duo managed to pitch out of trouble on several occasions.
“We’ve got a nice little one-two punch with Jo and Kaylynn,” Ruby said. “Today, I think we maybe missed a few pitches when we were ahead in the count. We have to be better at that, much better at that. But again, we pitched out of some tight jams.”
Statistically, Eaton was 2-for-2 with a home run, a double, two walks and four RBIs while Boggs finished 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs. Myers also helped out, going 2-for-4 with a double, two runs and an RBI.
Wellston was led by Childers, who was 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and a pair of RBIs, while Kilgour chipped in, going 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Wheelersburg will now meet with Byesville Meadowbrook in a Division III regional semifinal at 5 p.m., Wednesday at Unioto High School.
“You get this far in the tournament and everybody is good,” Ruby said. “It’s like we tell our kids; we just need to what we do and keep doing what we do. If we do that, good things will happen.”
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