John Bruce, Staff Writer
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
CHILLICOTHE — Through six innings on Thursday night, West’s typically dynamic offense was held in check. But, they play seven, and it gave the Senators one last chance to corral the Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs.
By upping their aggressiveness at the plate, West (15-11) put pressure on the Mustangs’ defense and were able to score three times in the bottom of the seventh for a shocking 4-3 comeback win to advance to Saturday’s district championship game.
Through the first six innings of play, outside of a solo home run from Ally Buckner, Lynchburg-Clay’s Noel Barnhill was in complete control in the circle. Barnhill had gotten ahead of batters, worked the corners of the plate and had her way at every turn.
CREDIT: Raymond Gleadle/SOSA
However, when the seventh inning started, the Senators, trailing 3-1, began to jump on the first pitch strikes to give themselves a chance.
After freshman Aubree Hayslip started the seventh with a line drive single to center field, senior Senator Maleah Whitman scorched the first pitch she saw into left field. It put two runners on, with no outs, for West.
“In my head, I was thinking this could be my last at-bat,” Whitman said of her clutch hit in the seventh. “That’s when I got on and we were all pumped and then we just kept going.”
Ariane Jordan followed by working a walk to load the bases for pitcher Layla Kamer.
Kamer jumped on the first pitch she saw, pulling a grounder to third, which was temporarily mishandled, before the throw to the plate was not in time to cut down Hayslip, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
On the very next pitch, Rilee Pollard smoked a one hopper that deflected off Barnhill and into short left field, scoring Whitman for a game-tying single.
PHOTO: Images from West’s district semifinal win over Lynchburg-Clay
Two pitches later, Ally Hedge hit a hopper to short and the throw to the plate was late, scoring Jordan with a game-winning fielder’s choice to push the Senators back into the district championship game.
It was a game that Lynchburg-Clay (14-11) was in control of throughout, beginning in the first inning when Jazmine Brown smoked a base hit down the third base line to score Sadie Kuipers with two outs, giving the Mustangs the early lead.
LC added to that edge in the second when Audrey Barry lined a two-out single into centerfield, coring Reese Ruble to make it 2-0. The lead swelled again in the fourth when Kendra Doss blooped a single into short right, scoring Caraline West, who was running for Barnhill after her one-out double earlier in the inning.
It appeared that would be enough with Barnhill retiring nine consecutive batters before the blast from Buckner gave the Senators some life in the sixth.
“It was pretty big,” Buckner said of her home run. “I felt like we were missing a piece of our hitting. We just couldn’t connect at the plate. But, after that, we got hyped and I knew we could come back.”
On the evening, Barnhill was masterful for the Mustangs, going the distance in the circle while allowing just a pair of earned runs and striking out five. She also went 3-for-4 at the dish with a double. Doss also went 3-for-4 at the plate for the Mustangs, who had a total of 11 knocks on the night.
Kamer was solid in the circle for the Senators, only allowing a single earned run, while walking none and striking out three. Buckner was the only Senator with multiple hits, going a perfect 3-for-3, adding a double to go alongside her home run.
The Senators will take on Eastern Pike in Saturday’s district championship game, a rematch of an instant classic from April 29, when a Lainey Cook sacrifice fly won a 10-9 decision for the Senators.
First pitch is slated for 5 p.m.
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