The Upper Arlington High School softball team is on a roll, and the timing couldn't be much better.
The Golden Bears defeated Hilliard Davidson 6-1 last Monday in an OCC-Central Division game to push their winning streak to 11 and appear primed to make a deep run in the Division I district tournament.
"We're really playing our best ball right now," coach Todd DelBoccio said. "It's starting to jell. It's starting to come together."
UA is seeded fifth behind Grove City, Gahanna, Pickerington Central and Central Crossing and has a first-round bye. It plays host to Briggs or Logan in the second round on Wednesday, with the winner advancing to a district semifinal, where it plays 10th-seeded Mount Vernon, 12th-seeded Watterson or Brookhaven on May 17 at Pickerington Central.
"I think the entire team is coming together and everyone is doing their part to help the team," shortstop Katie Luciano said. "I'd say our confidence is really high."
If the Bears reach a district final on May 19 at Pickerington Central, they likely would face second-seeded Gahanna.
"I thought we got a good draw," DelBoccio said.
UA has its sights set on winning its first district championship since 1994. The Bears entered the postseason last year with those same aspirations, only to
lose to Hilliard Darby 4-0 in a district semifinal. Seeded third, UA had a first-round round and defeated Logan 10-0 in six innings in the second round before falling to the Panthers.
"The girls who were on the team last year will for sure use that as motivation," Luciano said. "For us seniors, we want to go as far as we can. Even the younger girls know how upsetting that loss was for us last year."
DelBoccio believes the Bears' schedule has prepared them for the tournament. Among their recent victories was a 5-0 win over Central Crossing on April 28, a 3-1 win over Lakewood on April 29 and a 5-0 win over Pickerington Central last Saturday.
Pickerington Central and Central Crossing are seeded third and fourth, respectively, in the district in Division I and Lakewood is seeded second in Division II.
Still, the Bears know key regular-season wins don't guarantee success in the postseason, so they're not looking too far ahead.
"I know that we talked about (going deep in the tournament) at the beginning of the year, but we're taking it one game at a time," catcher Kasi Vazquez said. "Obviously, those wins helped build our confidence. Hopefully we can keep it going till the end of the season, but we're going to take it step by step."
UA entered the week with an opportunity to clinch its second consecutive OCC-Central title. After last Monday, the Bears were atop the league standings at 10-2, with Central Crossing in second at 10-3. Davidson fell to 9-4.
Last year UA celebrated its first OCC title since 1994. It played Dublin Coffman last Wednesday and concludes league play today at Hilliard Darby. The Bears defeated Darby 7-1 on April 9, as pitcher Audrey Plant threw a one-hitter, Luciano went 4-for-4 and scored three runs and third baseman Taylor Miley had three RBI.
"We've never won back-to-back OCC titles," DelBoccio said. "That's something the kids really want."
With the win over Central Crossing, UA avenged a 2-1, nine-inning loss to the Comets on April 12. In the rematch, Luciano had two RBI and Mandie Abbruzzesse and Plant combined to pitch a three-hitter.
Through 16 games, UA had .249 team batting average. Among its leading hitters were Vazquez (.455, 4 HR, 12 RBI and 12 runs), Luciano (.389, 11 runs), designated player Sarah Watson (.298, 9 RBI) and Abbruzzesse (.250, 2 HR, 5 RBI).
Also through 16 games, Plant was 10-2 with two saves and a 0.63 ERA and had 181 strikeouts and 23 walks in 111 1/3 innings.
Heading into the season, the Gahanna Lincoln High School baseball team had three main goals: win the OCC-Ohio Division title, win a Division I district title and advance to the state tournament.
The Lions fell out of contention for the league title with an 11-2 loss to Grove City last Friday, but the other two goals still can be attained, starting with the district championship.
Gahanna is seeded sixth and has a first-round bye. The Lions open in the second round on Wednesday at home against Northland or Westerville Central. The winner plays Briggs, Lancaster or No. 12 Upper Arlington in a district semifinal on May 17 at Grove City.
Of those potential opponents, Lancaster is the only team the Lions have played this season. Gahanna swept the season series with the Golden Gales, winning 2-1 on April 7 and 3-0 on April 23.
The Lions play host to Upper Arlington today.
Gahanna is striving for its third consecutive district title. The Lions appear to be well suited to make a deep tournament run, as they have good pitching, the ability to produce runs from anywhere within the lineup and solid defense.
"I always like our chances," assistant coach Brian Hull said. "If you get good pitching, you can win. Ben (Bokor) has been there and Vinny (Galiardi) has been throwing incredible."
Bokor, an Ohio State recruit, has the ability to change games on his own, as evidenced by the no-hitter he threw in a 3-0 win over Lancaster on April 23. Bokor struck out 13 batters and was one walk away from throwing a perfect game.
Galiardi also has emerged as one of the Lions' top pitchers, as he was 4-0 with a sub-2.00 ERA through 23 games.
Hull would like to see the Lions be a little more consistent at the plate.
"If we can swing it the way we're capable of swinging it, then we can be pretty good," he said.
However, that may be easier said than done. Coach Mike Shade pointed to a 5-2 loss to Pickerington North on April 28 as an example of his team's struggles at the plate.
"We were swinging at marginal pitches, and that's something we're working on," Shade said. "We need to improve our hitters' approach at the plate, especially when we're ahead in the count, because against Pickerington North we got a little too anxious at the plate."
The struggles at the plate continued for Gahanna in its loss to Grove City last Friday, as the Lions managed just three hits.
"I'm disappointed about the OCC race," Shade said. "That's done now, and that realization is tough to swallow."
The Lions only can hope that history repeats itself. After a 10-9 loss to Grove City on April 14, Gahanna won its next seven games.
"After the first Grove City game, the guys just started to relax and play the game the way they know how to," Shade said. "Just make the play when you're given the opportunity, and I think that changed after the game."
After facing Upper Arlington today, Gahanna concludes the regular season on Saturday at Watterson.
"At this point, you look to the next game and see what you can do to get better for the next game," Shade said. "You have to maintain your standard of play for every game."
The relationship Matt Connor has with two of his pitchers goes far beyond knowing what pitch to call or recognizing body language.
Watkins Memorial's senior catcher and junior pitchers Eric Robinson and Chris Skaggs each have Type 1 diabetes, giving the trio of Warriors a brotherhood none wanted, but one in which they have been thriving.
"Matt usually has to remind me before I pitch, 'Hey, go check because you pitch a lot better when your numbers are good,'" Skaggs said. "I find that I can't find the strike zone when my numbers are up, so it is nice to have Matt there to remind me."
None of the three have let the disease slow them down. Connor and Robinson were teammates last summer on the Pickerington Post 283 American Legion state tournament qualifying team. Skaggs was a starter on Watkins' football and basketball teams earlier this year.
On the diamond, each has had his share of highlights in leading the Warriors to a winning season in the competitive Ohio Capital Conference-Capital Division.
"It is nice to know they are out there," Connor said. "We always watch out for each other. It is nice to know there are other people going through what you are and dealing with the same things."
For Robinson, diabetes almost always has been a part of him. He was diagnosed when he was 6 years old, and the daily routine quickly became a part of his childhood.
With a sister who also has the disease, checking blood sugar several times during the school day and taking insulin shots after meals has become normal.
"That is my habit I do every day," Robinson said. "It is just something I don't even think about. I just do it, and it is a routine for me."
Connor received the diagnosis when he was 9, not the best time to teach a boy daily habits and self-control. Connor had a wake-up call shortly thereafter when he ignored his duties while at a friend's house for a sleepover.
Now, Connor is the Warriors' second-year catcher and already has been an all-OCC performer while squatting behind the plate for nearly every inning of Watkins' season. Unlike Robinson, Connor uses an insulin pump under his uniform to keep him steady.
"As far as the pump, I think it really helps in baseball," Connor said. "It is easier to keep in touch. It is an easy fix if your blood sugar is either high or low."
Skaggs, a best friend of Robinson, knew the life of a diabetic. He just did not know he was one. When he was 14, Robinson's late father, Jeff, suggested Skaggs get tested.
"I was always really tired, and I was drinking a lot," Skaggs said. "I would go through a 24-pack of water in two or three days, and I was always hungry. Nothing would ever fill me up."
The transition turned serious soon after Skaggs became tired at a basketball practice. Luckily, Robinson, a teammate at the time, knew the signs and helped Skaggs with the athletic trainer's assistance.
Skaggs never lost consciousness, but his blood sugar was below 20, a potentially deadly number. It is a constant reminder to Skaggs, who also has been dangerously high from time to time, that he has to stay on top of the disease.
"I still remember when I could just go grab a bowl of ice cream and not worry about it," Skaggs said. "I find myself getting into trouble with that sometimes, but I am starting to get better with that."
Two years later, nothing separates the trio from their Watkins teammates. Energy drinks and snacks always are on hand in the dugout. Teammates and coaches are aware of the situation, but they never have been called to immediate action.
"I have been very lucky that they are very responsible," Watkins coach Donald Schone said. "You know the telling signs, and a few of my friends have had diabetes so that kind of helps. But these guys have done a very good job of monitoring themselves. We haven't had any issues, knock on wood."
Watkins Memorial started the week with hopes of jumping back into the Ohio Capital Conference-Capital Division title hunt.
The week ended with first-place Mount Vernon dealing a final blow to the Warriors' faint hopes. The Yellow Jackets scored nine runs during the first two innings Friday against the host Warriors in a five-inning 12-0 rout as the Yellow Jackets remained above a wild pack in the OCC-Capital to clinch the title.
"They hit the ball, and we definitely did not make any plays," said Watkins coach Donald Schone, whose team opened the week with a victory against Delaware but lost to Olentangy Orange on Wednesday.
"We got behind early, and they buried us."
Mount Vernon's deep lineup did the damage on Watkins right-handed starter Taylor Day in the first inning when the Yellow Jackets (20-2, 11-1) scored five runs on six hits, including three doubles.
In the second inning, Day's defense did not allow him to settle down. A bobble on the infield turned into an error, another reached on a fielder's choice because the throw went to the wrong base and an additional run scored on a failed pick-off attempt.
"The frustrating thing was in that second inning, I think we gave them six outs, and you can't do that," Schone said. "Fly balls, we have to catch them. Ground balls, yeah, they were hard-hit, but they weren't anything we couldn't handle."
Mount Vernon's left-handed starter Russell Doup did not need much help. Watkins (12-9, 7-5) did not have a base runner until the fourth when the Warriors had their only three hits, but they did not score because a runner was caught stealing.
Tony Winters, D.J. Collins and John Parrett had the three singles. Winters, a freshman, restored order on the mound and pitched the final three innings, striking out the side in the third.
The Warriors have their final two OCC-Capital games, but they first look toward Sunday's Division I tournament draw.
"They keep coming and working, and that is all I can ask of them," Schone said. "I am not concerned."
MOUNT VERNON — The Mount Vernon High School baseball team checked one of its goals off its list on Wednesday afternoon at Yellow Jacket Field. The Yellow Jackets avenged an earlier loss to Hilliard Bradley, run-ruling the Jaguars, 11-1, in five innings, and in doing so, clinched at least a share of the Ohio Capital Conference Capital Division title.
“This feels great because we had a bad taste in our mouth when we left Bradley,” said Mount Vernon shortstop Tad Glibert. “We thought we were the better team, but we didn’t play very well. To be able to back that up today and win a share of the league is awesome.”
“It is nice to win a share of (the OCC), but these kids aren’t looking for a share,” said Mount Vernon coach Doug Savage. “They want the whole thing, the outright title. In fact, they don’t want to lose any more in the OCC. One of their goals is to go 13-1 in league play, and another one of their goals is to go undefeated at home. That’s big on their minds as well.”
Mount Vernon (18-2, 10-1 OCC Capital) wasted little time getting the bats going against Bradley (13-6, 6-5 OCC Capital). Riley Swanson started the bottom of the first with a single, but was thrown out on a fielder’s choice by Robert Kane. Kane moved to third on a single by Derek Baker and a throwing error, and came home on a single by Justin Edwards. Russell Doup then singled to drive in Baker to make it a 2-0 lead. Both Edwards and Doup moved up on a wild pitch by Bradley’s Jackson Everman, and another Jaguar error brought home Edwards for a 3-0 advantage. The Jaguars turned a double play to end the inning.
Ben Hoar, who pitched the game for the Jackets, found himself in a little trouble in the second inning. After setting the side down in order in the first inning, Hoar struck out the leadoff batter before an error and two singles loaded the bases. He settled back in, however, and posted another strikeout and then induced Kevin Bumgarner to fly out to end the inning.
The Jackets added to their lead in the bottom of the second. Kody Green led off with a double to right, and Glibert hit an RBI double, scoring Green. Robert Kane reached on a single before Baker smashed a two-RBI triple to right field to make it a 6-0 game, chasing Everman from the mound. Baker later scored on a wild pitch by Ken Reichle to make it a 7-0 lead after two innings.
“Coach tells us to be tough outs, one through nine, and we’ve really been working on hitting line-drive ground balls,” said Glibert. “We are getting more comfortable at the plate, and seeing the ball better.”
Hoar got some help from his defense in the top of the third. After a one-out single by Luke Simeon, Green and Swanson turned a 5-4-3 double play on a hard hit ball by Trey Welch to end the inning. That was the first of three double plays Mount Vernon turned in the game.
Hoar added to the lead in the bottom of the inning, hitting a leadoff home run to right field, but the Jaguars got it back in the top of the fourth. A leadoff walk to Reichle turned into a run after a pair of one-out singles. A double play by Glibert and Swanson ended the threat for more, however.
“I was thinking double or triple; I was thinking triple off the bat, but it just kept carrying,” said Hoar of his home run. “It was a high outside pitch.”
Mount Vernon continued its hitting barrage in the bottom of the inning, posting three more hits and two more runs. Baker and Edwards reached on back-to-back singles, and Doup walked to load the bases. Alec Curry then singled to left-center, scoring Baker and Edwards. At that point, Bradley made another pitching change, bringing in Dray Hall. Hall managed to get out of the inning without another run scoring, getting a pop-up, a strikeout and a groundout to end the threat.
The Jackets turned yet another double play in the fifth inning after Bumgarner singled to lead off for Bradley. Jacob Miller grounded out to Glibert, who threw to Swanson who threw on to Edwards. Hoar then struck out Simeon to end the inning with a 10-1 lead.
“I thought we played a nice defensive game once again,” said Savage. “Starting with Ben on the mound, he pitched pretty well for us. Our infielders turned three double plays in five innings, and those are pitchers’ best friends. They were needed. ... I thought our defensive infield play was very good and went right along with what Ben was trying to do on the mound.”
Mount Vernon needed just one run to end the game, and it didn’t take long in the bottom of the inning for that to happen. Swanson flied out to start the inning, but Kane was hit by a pitch to give the Jackets a base runner. Kane stole second and moved to third on a balk before Baker was intentionally walked, putting runners on the corners. Edwards saw one pitch before Hall threw the ball high, missing catcher Spencer Gates’ target. The ball went all the way to the backstop, allowing Kane to score easily.
“We were very disappointed when we lost to them the first time because we shouldn’t have lost to them,” said Hoar. “We were ready to play today. I struggled there a little bit, but my defense made three double plays, which helped me out a lot.”
Hoar picked up the win for Mount Vernon, allowing one earned run on six hits in five innings. He walked one and struck out four. Baker led the way at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two RBI and three runs scored. Edwards was 2-for-2 with two runs scored, and Kane scored three times in the game.
Winning a share of the OCC title, while important, isn’t the Jackets only goal. They want to win it outright, which they can do with a win on Friday at Watkins Memorial. First, however, they will take on the visiting Mansfield Madison Rams this afternoon.
It is another great year of high school softball in the Columbus area and once again the area is blessed with some outstanding pitchers.
Paige Myers of Grove City and Audrey Plant of Upper Arlington are in their fourth seasons of dominating area hitters. Hilliard Brad-ley's Katie Roudabush, Hilliard David-son's Samantha Smith, Fairbanks' Sarah Grunert and the North Union duo of Maggie McMahan and Samantha Webb have been terrific in the first half of the season.
And then there is the emergence of sophomore Savannah Dorsey of Central Crossing. Through her first 103 innings, Dorsey had 136 strikeouts, had a 0.80 ERA and had thrown two no-hitters. In addition, she was batting .380 with four home runs.
"I just love being part of this team," Dorsey said. "My teammates are my best friends and we have developed great chemistry on and off the field. We have learned how to play the game with each other, we trust each other and we know each other's strengths and weaknesses.
"From the very beginning this season, I thought we could play with any team. Our hitting is solid from the No. 1 batter through the No. 9 hitter. Everybody can get on base and, defensively, everyone can make the plays that we need to be successful, but the thing that we are doing best right now as a team is being mentally prepared to face each challenge. I know there is pressure on me as the pitcher, but my teammates understand that and totally support me and that really helps my confidence."
Rona Dorsey, Savannah's mother, is her coach. The younger Dorsey said that has been a major help.
"My mom has instilled great confidence in our team and in me and I love winning games for her, but she has taught all of us that winning is for all of us to learn from and we should gain from each victory or defeat," Savannah Dorsey said.
Discussing her own strengths as a player, Savannah Dorsey said, "I think my strength is having a variety of pitches and not being afraid to use them. I am well aware that I have a great team behind me on defense and we continue to gain confidence in ourselves by making plays in the field. When I pitched my two no-hitters, I had great belief that my team would get the job done and, really, it was no big deal when I achieved the no-hitter. We have been taught that once a game ends, you have to let it go and look ahead, and that is what I am doing each day.
"On the hitting side, I actually just had my eyes checked and everything is good. My vision is great right now. I am seeing the ball really well and have the confidence that it takes to be a good hitter. I feel like I can do anything and, once again, that is why the mental side of softball is so vital to your success."
Sounds like coach Dorsey's approach is really working for the Comets. Winning 13 times in the first 15 games is proof.
I'll see you at a game.
Chris Shirer can not figure out the solution, but he's aware of the problem.
The Marysville High School softball team is struggling with timely hitting.
"It's been our Achilles' heel," Shirer said. "We're hitting the ball, we're just not hitting in timely situations."
Despite the offensive struggles, Marysville was 17-6 after defeating Westerville North 3-0. Entering last Friday, the Monarchs were one of three teams in the OCC-Cardinal Division with two losses. Olentangy Liberty led the conference at 9-2, followed by Marysville and Westerville Central at 8-2.
Marysville concludes the regular season Monday at home against Westerville North, Wednesday at Dublin Scioto and Friday at home against Westerville Central.
Marysville's search for offensive took a hit last Wednesday when leadoff hitter Shelby Allmon broke her right ankle.
"Shelby was on first and a girl hit a line drive to third base," Shirer said. "Allmon was going back, slid into the bag and when she hit the bag she snapped her ankle."
Allmon was leading Marys-ville with a .438 batting average. Shirer expects Allmon to miss the remainder of the season.
"It's going to be tough without her," Shirer said. "We're scrambling a little bit."
With the offense struggling, Marysville will rely on its pitching. Dani Steepe and Chelsea Burns have alternated starts this season. Through 21 games, Steepe was 9-2 with a 1.00 ERA and Burns was 6-2 with a 1.49 ERA.
"Dani is more of a riseball, screwball type pitcher," Shirer said. "Burns is more of a dropball, screwball pitcher who gets more ground balls.
"Our pitching has been good and our defense has improved. Right now we're just trying to find a way to get better. We're trying to find offense."
•The boys lacrosse team beat Springfield 12-6 for its first victory April 14.
"It meant a lot to us," coach Art Baschnagel said. "For a first-year program to be able to compete and win accounts for how hard the kids are working and how much they're learning about the game."
Marysville was 1-3 entering last Saturday's game against the Columbus City Schools Lacrosse Club. The Monarchs play four more regular-season games beginning Saturday at Springboro Lacrosse Club followed by games at home against CCS on May 14 and Clinton County on May 15, and at Pickerington Central on May 17.
"We're going to take our knocks because we're a new team," Baschnagel said. "We just keep trying to get ourselves in position to stay competitive in games."
Although four games are scheduled, playing those games may or may not occur because of a shortage of lacrosse referees. If Marysville plays on a busy night, their game may be one of the first to be postponed.
"The referees have a priority list," Baschnagel said. "On a heavier day, we may end up getting canceled because of a lack of referees. We've already had two games canceled because of that."
Through four games, Adam Capuano led Marysville with 10 goals, followed by three goals apiece from Gage Barton, Nigel Hewlett and Jordan Tank. Tank led the Monarchs with five assists. At goalie, Justis Williams and Alec Todd appeared in all four games with each recording 28 saves.
"We're still all so new, any given day one of our players can step up and make a difference," Baschnagel said. "We've seen consistent play across the board."
With only two seniors and three returning everyday starters on the roster of the Delaware Hayes High School baseball team, coach Mike Yinger knew he would have to do a lot of teaching this season.
But the good news for Yinger is that senior center fielder Nate Stuntz has helped in that capacity.
"It's one thing to hear it over and over again from a coach," Yinger said. "It means more when it comes from a leader, someone who has been in the program for a while and someone who has worked so hard to improve his game."
Stuntz batted .261 last season and scored 21 runs. He knew that in order to help lead the team, he had to lead by example. According to Yinger, Stuntz has accomplished that goal.
Through 19 games, Stuntz was batting .448 (30-for-67) from the leadoff spot. He had 25 runs, 14 RBI, seven walks and 18 stolen bases. He is the team's best base runner and has been a catalyst for a squad which lacks power hitting.
"I worked real hard last summer, and the hitting facility (which was completed last winter) was a tremendous asset," Stuntz said. "I hit five or six times a week. Coach Yinger is a good hitting coach and stressed to me what I was doing wrong last season. But he couldn't coach us (because of OHSAA rules) for long stretches.
"So, (former Delaware) players like Evan Shaw and Caleb Wilburn were there to help us as well."
Stuntz said once his main problem was identified, he worked on several drills relentlessly to correct it. He said he would have someone throw soft-toss to him while he was on one knee. He used one hand on the bat and choked way up. That drill helped his hands go straight to the ball. Then he would use two hands on the bat, making sure to make contact with the ball away from his body.
"In addition to that, there were several Tee drills and then a soft-toss drill when the ball is thrown from behind you," Stuntz said. "That means you see it, identify it and swing through it. It's about keeping your bat in the zone for a longer period of time before rolling your hands. From there, I'd go to live pitching, higher speeds and hitting curveballs. It was drill after drill after drill. But it worked."
Yinger said the change has been dramatic and exciting.
"He is an example of perseverance paying off and it's something every player in our program can point to and emulate," Yinger said. "Nate is a product of our system, which makes us extremely proud."
When the Pacers are hitting, Stuntz is usually standing at the edge of the dugout, talking and encouraging the batter and on-deck batter. When his teammates make an out, he greets them and talks to them about the at-bat.
"I wish I had at least five more of him," Yinger said. "He works so hard and just competes."
• ALSO - Sophomore shortstop Jacob Bosiokovic was hitting .536 (30-for-57) for the Pacers, who learn their Division I district draw today.
Senior Kody Akers had 24 RBI and junior Nick Ratliff was 6-0 on the mound.
Delaware hit just one home run in its first 20 games before sophomore Brandon Johnson slugged two in a 10-7 win over Big Walnut last Wednesday. He hit a two-run homer in the third and a solo shot in the seventh. He also singled and scored in the second. He finished 3-for-3 with three runs and three RBI.
Ratliff hit a three-run double in the first inning. Stuntz was 2-for-5 with a double.
Mary Ann Grimes will take over as Olentangy Orange High School girls basketball coach next season.
Grimes is expected to meet with members of the team after school on Tuesday. She replaces Amber Ellison, who compiled a 25-28 record including a 17-5 finish last season.
"I think she really missed coaching and saw that this position was open," Orange athletics director Tony Milano said. "She had a great resume. She knows how to win and how to run a program."
Grimes compiled a career record of 327-177 with stints at West Lafayette Ridgewood, Dresden Tri-Valley, Dublin Coffman and at the University of Akron. Grimes guided Ridgewood to the 1980 Class AA state final before losing to Delphos St. John's 62-41. She also led Tri-Valley to the 1985 Class AAA state championship game before falling to Pickerington 58-55 in overtime.
From 1-7 to 9-9, Big Walnut has turned the corner, flipped the switch and embodied every other sporting cliche.
These new softball Golden Eagles, at an even .500, are a far cry from those old softball Golden Eagles, six games under.
"We're heading in the right direction," Big Walnut coach Jeff Hatfield said, his Eagles 4-5 in the OCC Capital Division. "Obviously the league title is out of the question, but we still have Mount Vernon, Hilliard Bradley (canceled Monday, April 26) and Delaware coming up, so we can be a spoiler.
"The other thing, we can be a tough out in the (Division II postseason) tournament. If we're on our game we can play with everybody in the district. We've just got to hit more through the order. Hopefully we're starting to get our confidence back and get some rhythm."
With rhythmic victories over Fostoria 15-5 Friday, April 23, Brookville (5-4) Saturday, April 24, and Huber Heights Wayne (6-3) April 24 -- all in Centennial's Stellar Classic at Ohio State's Fred Beekman Park -- a little pep has been restored in the Eagles' step.
"They were three really good teams we played," Hatfield said. "To be honest, we had actually been playing pretty good ball until the Olentangy Orange game (10-3 home loss, also on April 23).
"As flat as we were against Orange, we struggled in the circle a little bit. I think Tabatha Piper had four or five walks in that game that came back to haunt us in one inning. So I was a little nervous about going to OSU after that and having to play three pretty tough teams, but the girls played unbelievable."
Adding a couple feathers to her cap at the Stellar was junior-varsity call-up Allie Walker, a freshman pitcher.
"Allie pitched in relief in both the Brookville and Huber Heights game and got both wins," said Hatfield, who also supplemented his roster with another arm in freshman Cheyan Pace. "That was a big boost.
"Obviously she pitched well and obviously we hit well. There's a good chance she's going to be seeing some more varsity action."
On the other end, crashing opposing pitchers' parties most frequently for the Eagles this season has been Leah Haines (.489 batting average), Piper (.383), Emily Petty (.353), Shelby Fink (.344) and Tayler Nance (.328).
But in the interest of full disclosure, though the offense hasn't set the world ablaze, per se, BW's earlier troubles originated elsewhere.
"We've struggled obviously a little more than I thought we would," Hatfield said. "It still comes down to hits and runs. We've lost some league games I felt like we shouldn't have lost. There were some games, like Mount Vernon (April 16), they were undefeated in the league and we beat them (4-0), shut them out at our place.
"It's been up and down. I'll say this is still as athletic of a team as I've had in four years, we're just young. We're still trying to find consistency in the circle with our pitchers. That's probably been the bigger key, we haven't had the consistency in the circle."
Charged with honing in on that steadiness both inside and outside of the circle, Big Nut will host DeSales Tuesday, April 27, and Delaware Hayes Wednesday, April 28, before returning to the road against New Albany Friday, April, 30. The Eagles will also play at Westerville South at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 1, and at Westerville North at 1 p.m. on the same day.
Additionally, the Central District tournament draw will be held Sunday, May 2.
"We've struggled obviously a little more than I thought we would. It still comes down to hits and runs. We've lost some league games I felt like we shouldn't have lost."
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