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AKRON — During Saturday’s postgame conference from Firestone Stadium, Macee Eaton delivered a message to teammates Catie Boggs and Andi Jo Howard while sitting in front of the media.
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
“Go do it again,” Eaton said.
And if a quote could embody the attitude and culture of winning inside Wheelersburg’s softball program, that’s exactly it.
Eaton and her Pirates had just won their second consecutive Division III state championship … and they were already focused on a third.
In front of a packed house in Akron, Wheelersburg blanked Lewistown Indian Lake by a 6-0 final to claim the program’s third state championship and second straight.
“I’m speechless, really,” Wheelersburg coach Teresa Ruby said. “32 games. It’s hard to keep kids focused that long. They were able to do it. I’m just in pure awe of what they were able to do. It’s been a pure joy to get to know and hang out with these ladies every day.”
The Pirates (32-0) struck first after back-to-back singles from Rileigh Lang and Ava Estep in the third inning.
Following a sacrifice bunt from Haley Myers to move both runners into scoring position, Macee Eaton logged an infield single for a 1-0 lead.
Then Catie Boggs stepped to the dish and opened the floodgates with a momentum-seizing two-run triple past the outstretched arms of Indian Lake’s centerfielder.
Boggs later scored thanks to a fielding error to give the Pirates a 4-0 lead.
And, put simply, that’s more than enough run support for Andi Jo Howard in the circle. The junior cruised all day long, mowing down Indian Lake’s lineup with efficiency.
“This heat, this weekend, was horrendous,” Ruby said. “Playing on turf was difficult. She pitched a gem. We always have good defense behind her, but she pitched a gem today and fought through the heat. That’s while [Indian Lake’s] pitcher looked to be struggling.”
“When I have a defense like these girls behind me, it’s honestly easier to just go do what I want to do,” Howard said. “I’m throwing pitches that I want to pitch because I know they’ll have my back.”
Eaton and Boggs teamed up again in the seventh to add insurance.
After Eaton walked, Boggs lined a two-run moonshot over the center field fence for a 6-0 score.
“I knew she was throwing first pitch strikes, so I just figured I’d go out and attack,” Boggs said. “It felt really good because I know [here teammates] always have my back. So it felt good to just give them something back.”
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
Howard then sent the Lakers packing in the bottom half, sealing a second consecutive state championship.
Boggs led the way offensively, going 2-for-4 with a homer, a triple, two runs and four RBIs. Eaton followed with a 2-for-3 effort alongside a double, two runs and an RBI. Lang, Estep, Kaylynn Carter also picked up base hits.
In the circle, Howard spun a complete game, allowing just two hits and striking out a pair.
“I’m speechless,” Eaton said. “These are my girls. I’m happy we won. But these are my sisters. These are my girls, so it’s going to be tough [graduating from the program]. But I’ll obviously be rooting for them. I hope they get a third one.”
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