Brock Netter, Editor
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
PORTSMOUTH — Timely hits, standout pitching and stellar defense.
That’s how Notre Dame earned the program’s first state championship last season … and it’s that same formula that brought the Titans a season-opening win.
Behind a three-run fifth inning, the Titans opened their state title defense with a 5-1 victory over Jackson on Tuesday in non-conference action.
“We won the state title last year, which is great. But we came into the game with the mindset that we needed this win,” Notre Dame’s Alayla Soard said. “We’re not a team that is just settling because of what we accomplished last year. We’re still pedaling and working towards that goal in the end, so this is what we’ve been working for and we felt confident coming into the game.”
CREDIT: Brock Netter/SOSA
After retiring Jackson in order in the first, Soard wasted no time getting the season officially going for ND.
After battling to a 3-2 count, and after fouling off a pair of pitches, she connected with the next pitch and took it for a ride over the center field fence, making it 1-0 with a leadoff bomb.
“Being the leadoff this year, I knew that I had to bring a good plate presence and get it started for my team,” Soard said. “The goal was simply just to get on base. But I remembered back to playing them last year and that she lives outside, so I knew that pitch was coming at some point and I just had to sit back on it.”
Ava Rush added an infield RBI single two innings later, extending the lead to 2-0 before going back to getting outs in the circle with her arm.
Jackson went down in order again in the fourth, and stranded a runner in the fifth, taking the game into the bottom of the fifth where the Titans created more separation.
With one out and the bases loaded, Lyndsey Schaefer notched an RBI groundout. That was followed by a two-run single through the right side from Kennedy Lyon to push the lead to 5-0.
“It takes everybody, no matter if it’s the three-hole, five-hole or six-hole hitter, everybody can come together and do their jobs,” Rush said. “Jackson is a really good and well-coached team with girls that can really hit the ball, so it was crucial in that moment to put up the runs and I think everyone executed really well.”
Jackson got on the board in the top of the sixth via a fielding error, but that was all the offense the Ironladies could muster before a groundout and a double play in the top of the seventh put the Titans’ victory on ice.
“Everyone loves to start the season off with a win, and I think it showed that we were ready and had it in us to open against a really tough team,” Rush said. “The defense played really great, the offense hit the ball really well and we had a lot of support here for the game. It’s great to start on a high note.”
Rush earned the win in the circle with a complete game effort, allowing just five hits and striking out six batters while also going 2-for-3 at the dish with an RBI.
Lyon was 1-for-3 with two RBIs, Schaefer was 1-for-4 with an RBI, and Soard was 1-for-2 with a home run.
Serenity Taylor suffered the loss for Jackson, tossing six innings, allowing four earned runs and striking out six hitters.
Notre Dame picked up an 11-0 victory over Northwest on Wednesday to move to 2-0, and returns to action on Saturday at home against defending Division IV state champion Kenton Ridge.
Jackson, meanwhile, has bounced back with a 14-1 victory over Hillsboro and a 7-3 win over South Webster. The Ironladies ill return to action on Monday, facing Fulton (N.Y.).
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