Lady Marauders top Athens

POMEROY — The Lady Marauders topped opponent Athens High School on Friday night, beating the Lady Bulldogs in a seven inning contest, 5-2.

The game got off to a slow start with each team holding the other from advancing for the first four innings, keeping a running total at zero runs all.

However, the fifth inning proved to be much different. It was then that the Lady Marauders gained momentum, making contact with the ball to get across home plate five times. After Athens had been marauded by Meigs, they were again unable to get a run, finishing out the fifth.

The sixth inning was another stalemate, neither team gaining a run, holding the score at 5-0, Meigs.

Athens made a slight comeback in the seventh, scoring two runs; however, it was not enough for the Lady Bulldogs to clinch a tie or the win.

Helping the team’s defensive drive was Meigs’ senior pitcher Hailey Ebersbach who had seven strikeouts in the game. Ebersbach also made a significant double in the fifth inning, knocking in three of her fellow Marauders.

Meigs hopes to continue their success, Saturday at 11 a.m. against Marietta at Marietta.

Meigs 5, Athens 2

Meigs 000 050 X — 5 4 2

Athens 000 000 2 — 2 4 2

WP — Ebersbach; LP — Woolum.

Blue Angels soar

past Jackson

GALLIPOLIS — Gallia Academy softball stayed unbeaten in league play Friday night against visting Jackson, but there was a costly price to pay during a 9-2 Southeastern Ohio Athletic League South Division victory at Memorial Field.

The Blue Angels (9-2, 6-0 SEOAL South) pounded out 11 hits in the triumph and were comfortably ahead 9-0 through six complete, but the Ironladies (4-4, 3-1 SEOAL South) came up with two runs in the seventh to conclude the scoring at its seven-run outcome.

But it was in that top of the seventh that GAHS suffered a bit of a setback, as starting third baseman Kimber Davis — a four-year starter — had to leave the contest with assistance because of a knee injury. What was worse, the injury occurred with two outs in the final frame.

The Blue and White, despite the emotional victory, still managed to win their 22nd consecutive SEOAL South contest while remaining alone atop the South Division standings.

Both teams went scoreless through one complete, but the hosts exploded for three runs in the second to establish an early 3-0 cushion. An error and a fielder’s choice allowed Brittyn Saunders and Amy Noe to reach base safely, then Kassie Day singled home both Saunders and Noe for a 2-0 advantage. Kayla Harrison — who pinch-ran for Day — later scored on a JHS error, making it a 3-0 contest after two complete.

The hosts added a run in the third, then tacked on two more scores in each of the fourth and fifth frames for a convincing 8-0 edge after five complete. GAHS added it final run in the sixth, which came from Saunders on a leadoff homer.

A pair of two-out singles by Anne Muzzy and Emily Cooper gave Jackson a scoring threat, then a fielder’s choice allowed Ladoska Garvey to load the bases for JHS. That fielder’s choice was also the play in which Davis was injured.

Brianna Moore drilled a single one batter later, which allowed Muzzy and Cooper to score for a 9-2 contest. The Ironladies never came closer the rest of the evening, as Danielle Miller lined out to second on the next play — wrapping up the seven-run decision.

GAHS starter Amy Noe went the distance for the winning decision, allowing seven hits, one walk and two earned runs while striking out six over seven frames. Jess Apsley took the loss for Jackson, allowing 12 hits, six earned runs and two walks while fanning four over six innings.

Saunders led the Angels with three hits, followed by Noe and Heather Ward with two safeties apiece. Davis, Day, Calyssa Mayes and Alli Saunders provided a hit each as well. Davis and Day both had a team-best two RBIs.

Cooper and Muzzy both had two hits for Jackson, while Garvey, Moore and Kylie Logan each had a safety for the guests.

Gallipolis 9, Jackson 2

Jackson 000 000 2 — 2 7 3

Gallipolis 031 221 x — 9 11 2

WP — Noe; LP — Apsley.

HR: GA — Brittyn Saunders (sixth inning, nobody on, nobody out).

Southern downs Lady Raiders

RACINE — Both teams showed some offensive prowless, but the Southern softball team had a little more pop in its offense Friday night during a 13-6 victory over River Valley during a non-conference matchup at Star Mill Park.

The Lady Tornadoes (3-8) pounded out 12 hits in the triumph, twice as many as the Lady Raiders mustered in the contest. RVHS, however, had the first lead of the game and also committed only two errors — one less than the hosts.

River Valley took its only lead of the night in the top of the first, as a one-out walk to Kristin Stump turned into a run when Chynna Mershon and Kaylee Rose produced back-to-back hits for an early 1-0 edge.

Southern countered by sending eight batters to the plate in their half of the first, which resulted in five runs on four hits and an error for a 5-1 cushion after one complete.

Both teams scored twice in the second to make it a 7-3 contest, then the Silver and Black cut the deficit to two with a pair of scores in the third for a 7-5 margin. RVHS also had a run in the sixth, but never came closer than two the rest of the evening.

Southern scored twice in each of the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, wrapping up the seven-run outcome.

Southern had eight players produce a hit in the contest, with Breanna Taylor, Stephanie Shamblin, Linzee Tucker and Lindsay Teaford leading the way with two safeties apiece. Emma Hunter, Kelsey Holsinger, Chelsea Pape and Brooke Gabritsch with one hit each.

Rose led the Lady Raiders with two hits, followed by Mershon, Kelcie Carter, Allison Porter and Jenna Ward with one safety each.

Gabritsch was the winning pitcher for Southern, while Katelyn Birchfield took the loss for RVHS.

Southern 13, R. Valley 6

R Valley 122 001 0 — 6 6 2

Southern 520 222 x — 13 12 3

WP — Gabritsch; LP — Birchfield.

S. Charleston edges out Point

ONA — It was a black battle on Thursday as the Lady Knights of Point Pleasant faced the Black Eagles of South Charleston at Sluggerfest softball tournament in Ona.

Facing the squad currently ranked second in the state for the AAA division, Point Pleasant had their work cut out for them in their first game of the tournament.

The contest was at a standstill in the first four innings, both teams holding each other at zero runs; however, the tie was broken in the fifth inning, South Charleston edging out a single run.

Pitching for Point Pleasant, Tessa Wyant racked up 10 strikeouts, but wasn’t able to hold South Charleston from advancing in the fifth off of a walk.

Standout hitters for the Lady Knights were Devin Cottrill (1-3), Anna Sommer (1-3), and Morghan Mullens (1-2).

Having faced a single-run loss, the ladies of Point Pleasant faced their next opponents in the tournament with fervor and strenth, shutting out Clay County.

Point blanks Clay County

ONA — After being inched out of a win against South Charleston, the Lady Knights took on the contest against Clay County and ran with it. Eight times to be exact. In an 8-0 shutout, Point Pleasant topped the Lady Panthers giving them their first win at Sluggerfest.

The Lady Knights were held from advancing in the first inning, starting the second inning with a score of 0-0.

Point Pleasant ran home once in the second and continued to hold Clay County at zero runs.

The third inning mirrored the first, neither team scoring, keeping the running total at 1-0.

Point rocketed into the fourth inning, racking up five runs and defending the plate again from Clay’s attempts to score.

Following that climax of scoring, the Lady Knights gained another run in each the fifth and sixth innings, and finished their raid by holding their opponents in the seventh from any attempt to get a run.

Hitting for Point Pleasant were Jennifer Wickline (1-3), Tessa Wyant (1-3), Devin Cottrill (1-3), and Emily Sommer who went 1 for 4, hitting a homerun and totaling up three RBIs.

The Lady Knight’s next round at Sluggerfest will be today against Riverside, starting at 1 p.m. in Ona.

Point Pleasant 8, Clay County 0

Point Pleasant 010 211 0 — 8 4 0

Clay County 000 000 0 — 0 3 8

POINT PLEASANT: Tessa Wyant; Miranda Thompson

CLAY COUNTY: Smith; Caldwell

Point Pleasant 0, South Charleston 1

South Charleston 000 010 0 — 1 0 0

Point Pleasant 000 000 0 — 0 3 1

POINT PLEASANT: Tessa Wyant; Devin Cottrill

SOUTH CHARLESTON (ranked second AAA): Chelsea Kobb; Hensley

WP — Kobb; LP — Wyant