Brock Netter, Editor
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
ATHENS — The third time truly was the charm.
Thursday marked the third time in five seasons that Wellston found itself in a district final. The previous two trips ended with a 10-2 loss to Wheelersburg in 2021 and a 1-0 loss to Coal Grove last spring.
Those demons, however, were all exorcised when Thursday’s final out was recorded. With a 3-2 win over Northwest, the Golden Rockets (20-2) captured their first district crown since 2014.
“This is my seventh year as head coach, and we’ve been on this stage before. But something has always happened, whether it’s a bad play in the field or an untimely hit,” Wellston coach Jim Hall said. “It nearly happened again, but the girls played very resiliently and were ready for this. It’s a big deal for the program to win a district and I’m very happy for the girls.”
Highlight film
Northwest (20-5) didn’t waste a moment getting on the board. While senior star Mollyann Runyon fell behind in the count in the first inning, it didn’t matter when she took an 0-2, two-out pitch over the center field fence, giving the Mohawks a 1-0 lead.
Following back-to-back scoreless innings, Wellston needed to find a crack in the Mohawks’ armor. Northwest committed a fielding error to put a runner on, and that opened the door.
After a walk and a fielder’s choice, Kennedi Stevens stepped to the plate and took the first pitch she saw for a ride into right-center field, logging a two-run triple that put the Golden Rockets ahead 2-1.
“I got in the box and I told myself that I was getting a base hit or at least getting the ball in play to bring at least one run in,” Stevens said. “The first pitch was on the outside corner and it looked good enough to take, so I took it.”
In the fifth with two more runners on base, Rylan Landrum saw her own pitch and ripped an RBI single into left field, extending the lead to 3-1.
The tally stayed the same heading into the bottom of the inning.
PHOTOS: Images from Wellston’s district championship win over Northwest
After being intentionally walked in her second at-bat, Wellston decided to pitch to Runyon again and she made that decision hurt, sending a second solo bomb past the fence that cut the deficit to 3-2.
But ultimately, the night belonged to Hannah Potts in the circle as she struck out the final two batters in the bottom of the seventh, starting the party in Wellston.
“This is a feeling like no other to finally get over that hump. These are the girls I’ve grown up with and played with since I was eight years old,” Potts said. “They are my best friends off the field, so to win this and experience this moment with them is unreal, especially in my senior year.”
Potts’ prowess
Aside from two at-bats, Potts was … well, Potts.
She’s been the engine that makes the Golden Rockets go all year long. She put forth another dominant performance on Thursday.
The Western Michigan commit has tossed seven no-hitters this spring and, while Thursday wasn’t perfect, it showcased why she’ll be playing at the Division I level.
She earned the win in a complete game effort, allowing just two hits and striking out 17 batters.
“I’m a true believer that the work you put in during the offseason shows up in the big moments like this,” Potts said. “Last year, I was on the other side of a one-run ballgame on this stage so I know what the feeling is like. We’ve been so close the last three years and that was the motivation to get it done this year. Every time I take the field, I don’t know if it will be my last game and I’ve put in too much work to put pressure on myself. I’m just happy to be here and play the game I love.”
Stat book
Following Potts’ numbers in the circle, Stevens finished 1-for-3 with a triple and two RBIs, while Landrum was 1-for-2 with an RBI.
For Northwest, Runyon finished 2-for-2 with two home runs and two RBIs. Annika Carpenter took the loss in six innings, allowing just three hits and striking out five batters.
Up next
As Northwest’s season concludes, Wellston advances to a Division V regional semifinal against Tuscarawas Valley, who beat West Muskingum by a 6-5 final in the East District to advance.
That contest will happen at 5 p.m., Wednesday at Ohio University.
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