Derrick Webb, Managing Editor
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
ATHENS — The machine just keeps on churning out victories.
Wheelersburg treated Saturday’s Division V district championship game, the Pirates treated it like any other game they’ve played in — a business trip.
And from the first pitch on, ‘Burg took care of business.
Behind a shutout pitching performance from Emmee Eaton and a high-powered offense that didn’t miss a beat, Wheelersburg glided to an 11-0 win over Wellston on Ohio University.
“This is the standard,” Eaton said. “Every game is a business trip. Coaches expect that from us and our team. Even freshmen, they know what to expect coming into a game and they know we have high-level focus. There’s not always going to be a win, but we have to keep trying to get them. Every game at a time. Just one at a time.”
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
The Pirates (19-5) wasted no time gracing the scoreboard.
In the bottom of the first, Mylee Gleim grounded out to score Ava Estep, making it 1-0. And, later in the inning, an error allowed Layna Howard to score for a 2-0 count.
In the second, that lead swelled to 5-0.
Estep doubled to drive in a run before Howard logged a two-run single to tag on two more.
“My approach was to just hit the top half,” Estep said. “There were runners on when I was up to bat, so I was just trying to do anything in my power to score some runs.”
Things ballooned even further in the third.
Mati Jennings made it a 6-0 ballgame with a sacrifice fly before Howard made it 7-0 with an RBI single. When Gleim logged a two-run double into deep left field, followed by an RBI triple from Jalynn Drake, the Pirates had a 10-0 cushion.
The day’s final run came in the same frame, a cherry on top, in the form of an RBI single from Eaton.
“We watched a little bit of film and we saw their pitching before,” Eaton said. “I didn’t have a great day at the plate, but I tried to make sure I didn’t carry that onto defense. My approach going into my third at-bat was just trying to see every pitch and getting a hold on one. My team followed behind me and allowed me to have those bad at-bats today without giving up.”
Overall, Wheelersburg had 11 runs on 12 hits while Wellston (21-8) mustered just two base knocks.
“I just had to go out there and be confident in myself,” Eaton said. “I knew that my coaches trusted me and I knew I had to be there for my team and let them defend behind me.”
Howard led the Pirates offensively, finishing 3-for-4 with a double, two runs and three RBIs. Gleim went 2-for-3 with a double, a run and three RBIs, Estep was 2-for-2 with a double, three runs and an RBI, and Drake finished 1-for-3 with a triple, a run, and a pair of RBIs.
Eaton’s day in the circle spanned five innings of two-hit softball while she struck out five.
While Wellston’s season comes to an end, Wheelersburg advances to a Division V regional semifinal at 2 p.m., Wednesday at VA Memorial Stadium.
The Pirates will meet with Uhrichsville Claymont, who defeated Martins Ferry to advance.
“We’re just so prepared for this, even though we’re young,” Estep said. “We have a lot of girls that are mentally prepared and we have each other’s backs.”
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