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Greenville
senior pitcher Ashley Hanes threw a gem Saturday in the
regional final against Valley View.
Greenville steam rolled the
Spartans 11-1 to move on to the state semi-finals. Hanes would also
have two hits in the game with a run batted in. CNO Photos by Steve Birt
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Greenville
blasts Valley View to win regional crown
LADY WAVE STATEBOUND
By George Starks
MASON- For the third time in 10 years, Jerrod Newland and his Lady Wave
softball team will be going to the state. Saturday, Greenville relied
on three big scoring innings to bury Valley View in the regional final,
11-1.
It all happened on the philosophy that Newland has used for years.
“Put the ball into play, force the other team to field the ball and
crazy things will happen.”
Saturday, that was never truer. After getting things tied up in the
third at one run each on what would prove to be the only earned run of
the day for Greenville, the Wave started to force the action.
And it all started in the fourth. After Erin Albright would lead the
frame off with a walk, Taylon French would follow with an infield
single. Then the fun began.
With Jordon Harter standing at second running for Albright, Kate
McDermitt came to the plate in a bunting situation. McDermitt put down
a good one as the Spartan third baseman fielded the ball and threw it
down the first base line.
Harter would score what would prove to be the winning run, giving the
Wave a 2-1 lead.
“The ball doesn’t know how to bounce,” Newland said. “When you line it
up and play, great teams find ways to win and we did that today. I tell
the kids everyday you’ve got to put the pressure on and today we did.”
All 10 of the final runs scored would be unearned by Greenville as
Valley View would commit six errors in the game.
“Tough teams find ways and one run is not going to get us,” Newland
said. “I told the girls to keep fighting when they scored the first run
because I knew we would score four or five runs. Wow, 11 runs.”
After the three in the third, Greenville followed in the sixth, sending
10 to the table, scoring four times, then plating three more in the
seventh... all 10 runs unearned.
“That’s a crazy number,” said Newland. “Our goal all year was to get
back to Akron and I said at the start of the year we were going back.
That was a promise I made. It means so much to the city, the kids and
the school to make this trip. All the future Lady Wave running around
Stebbins Complex is cute for them to see. The first ten years I’ve had
here have been awesome and I can’t wait for the next ten.”
In the circle, senior pitcher Ashley Hanes proved why she is there. In
the seven innings pitched, Hanes allowed just one hit after the two in
the first, struck out three and walked two. At the plate, Hanes
collected two hits with a run batted in.
“Ashley is going to keep us in games,” Newland said of his pitcher.
“She has a great defense behind her and she uses it and today was no
exception.”
The victory was number 111 for the Wave seniors and it came via the
regional championship.
“When you really step back and think about it, you can play 27 games a
year (before tournament) and 108 wins is 27 wins a year so they have
won over 27 a year,” said Newland. “In the four years, these seniors
are 111-20 and that’s just hard work, dedication and doing it the right
way on and off the field.”
Eleven runs on 10 hits.
“That’s not even normal for a regional game,” exclaimed Newland.
Greenville, 28-4, will play in Akron on Friday at 10 a.m. against the
winner of the Warsaw Riverview/Circleville Logan Elm game.
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Jordon
Harter scored what would prove to be the winning run in the
fourth, pinch-running for
Erin Albright. That run would be the first of
three runs in the inning.
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Senior
Kelly Martin had four hits on the day with a run batted in.
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