Derrick Webb, Managing Editor
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
ATHENS — Just put the ball in play. Sometimes, it’s as simple as that.
Southeastern’s offense would be the first to tell you that it didn’t have the night it wanted to on Tuesday in a Division V district semifinal.
Facing North Adams star pitcher Carlee Garrison wasn’t easy. The senior held the Panthers without an extra-base hit all night long. But what SE did do was put pressure on the Devils’ defense and, simply put, that was the difference between a win and a who-knows-what.
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
The Panthers took advantage of three NA defensive miscues, which led to three runs and the difference in a 4-1 victory at Ohio University.
“I was just thinking that I needed to get the ball through [the infield], get my [teammates] in and I need to score. I hit the ball and it just got my motivation up. I was just ready to go.”
Turner’s at-bat in the top of the fifth inning was exactly what the doctor ordered in, at the time, a one-run ballgame.
With the Panthers (20-8) up 1-0 with two outs in the frame, and teammates Ava Cyrus and Ally Fisher standing in scoring position, the sophomore turned on an 0-1 offering that was mishandled before reaching the outfield green.
It allowed both runners to scamper home before Turner came around to score on an RBI single from Dylan Skaggs, making it 4-0.
PHOTOS: Images from Southeastern’s district semifinal win over North Adams
It was a self-dug hole that North Adams (22-6) couldn’t climb out of.
While the Green Devils did get a run back in the bottom half of the inning, they also left the bases loaded. That gave Southeastern hurler Kylie Williams a second breath and she went into lockdown mode from that point forward.
“I just knew to be ready [defensively] and prepared for whatever’s coming at me,” Lydia Williams said. “[Kylie Williams] is always up. She never gets down on herself. Even when she’s not pitching the best, she always stays up.”
Statistically, Cyrus and Fisher led the Panthers’ offensive efforts with two hits and a run scored each. Mallorie Elam also chipped in with a 1-for-3 effort alongside an RBI while Lydia Williams was 1-for-3 with a run.
North Adams, who had just three hits as a team, was led by catcher Chloe Armstrong, who was 2-for-3 with a double. Marnie Tolle also lended a hand, going 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
Garrison took the loss in the circle in seven innings of work, giving up just a single earned run while whiffing three. On the other side, Kylie Williams picked up the victory in a complete game effort, striking out nine.
While the Devils’ season comes to an end, Southeastern advances to a Division V district championship game at 2:30 p.m., Friday at Ohio University.
They’ll be facing No. 2 seeded Meigs, who beat Coal Grove by a 6-0 final to advance.
A win would mark the program’s first-ever district crown.
“This is pretty cool,” Skaggs said. “We haven’t gone to the [district tournament] in a while, and we just had to be focused tonight. We were ready to play. I’m happy we’ve made it this far.”
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