Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
CHILLICOTHE — Growing up, every athlete dreams of being the hero — whether that means hitting a walk-off home run or nailing a game-winner.
Ashlee Spence turned that dream into her reality on Thursday.
Deadlocked at 6-6 in the bottom of the seventh inning, South Webster’s senior slugger connected on a 2-2 pitch and hit the walk-off home run of a lifetime, lifting her Jeeps to a 7-6 victory over Ironton in a Division III district final.
“I won’t lie, I definitely went into that at-bat a little nervous. But once I had a 2-2 count against me, I knew I wasn’t letting down or giving up,” Spence said. “I didn’t think it’d be a home run, but I was expecting to hit the ball. She threw me my pitch and I took it.”
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
The victory marks the third straight district championship for the Jeeps.
“This is really big and it means everything to us, especially coming from a small school,” Spence said. “I know in years past that the softball team has kind of struggled, but us seniors came into high school, we started to build up some success and over the last four years, it’s really turned us into the program we are now.”
The Jeeps (23-3) retired Ironton in order to start the game, and wasted no time jumping on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the first inning.
Following a double from Skylar Zimmerman, Bella Claxon roped an RBI single to right field, putting the Jeeps ahead 1-0. Two batters later, Spence smoked an RBI double into left-center field that extended the lead to 2-0.
South Webster was cruising defensively as well behind pitcher Jaiden White, retiring the first 10 batters in order.
However, Ironton (21-6) managed back-to-back walks in the fourth and Katelyn Moore made the Jeeps pay the price. She took a 2-2 offering and sent it over the trees in left field, putting the Tigers ahead 3-2.
“We knew this was going to be a tough game. We found ourselves up early, and then down just like that,” South Webster coach Andy Messer said. “But our experience on this stage and in these moments definitely helped us remain calm after that home run. This is a mature and resilient group, and the seniors gathered everyone together to keep the energy up and reinforce hitting the ball and continuing to make plays.”
The Jeeps left two runners on base in the fourth, but didn’t make the same mistake in the fifth.
Spence smoked an RBI single into left field, tying the game at 3-3. Then Ava Messer flexed her muscles, uncorking a three-run, no-doubter to center, putting SW back ahead 6-3.
“It was a little high, but it looked good, so I jumped on it,” Ava Messer said.
“Definitely an exciting feeling to give us back the lead.”
The Tigers weren’t going down without a fight, though, and began to chip away in the sixth when Layla Townsend laced an RBI single into left field, cutting the lead to 6-4.
That led to the seventh where Graycie Brammer stepped up with two runners on, and smoked an RBI single into right field. The next batter, Khamil Martin, then registered a sacrifice fly, tying the game at 6-6.
However, that led to Spence’s moment in the spotlight as she ended the game with one swing of the bat, bringing a second consecutive district title back to South Webster.
“This run of district titles is all about the kids and I couldn’t be any happier for them,” Andy Messer said. “These seniors have been setting a standard for the past four years and this is a great group to coach. Everyone contributes top to bottom on both sides, and that’s what’s been key to our success.”
Spence finished the game 4-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs, while Messer went 1-for-2 with a home run and three RBIs. Claxon was 1-for-4 with an RBI.
For Ironton, Moore finished 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs, while Martin and Brammer each added an RBI.
South Webster advances to a Division III regional semifinal at 5 p.m., Wednesday at Ohio University against Coal Grove, who defeated Wellston to move on.
“I feel like we’ve been playing our best softball since tournaments started and I think the experience is definitely going to help us at regionals,” Spence said. “The nerves will still be there for sure, but we’re going in with a lot of confidence and focus to get the job done to keep our season going.”
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