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Greenville
senior Kelly Martin takes a swing at a pitch Thursday in the
Lady Wave’s game with Tecumseh.
Greenville held on for a 2-1 victory to
advance to the sectional finals. The Wave will battle Springfield
Shawnee
next Tuesday at Tecumseh High School. Shawnee topped Kenton
Ridge, 3-2. CNO Photo by George Starks
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Greenville
survives tight one with Tecumseh
Pitching holds up for Lady Wave
By George Starks
GREENVILLE- “We didn’t play good softball but we played good enough to
win.”
Those were the words of Greenville softball coach Jerrod Newland
Thursday after the Lady Wave won a 2-1 nail biter over Tecumseh in the
second round of the OHSAA D-II sectional.
“Hats off to Tecumseh,” said Newland. They played well. Everyone is 0-0
on the year and we have that bulls-eye on our backs. I like that
because we get everybody’s best shot.”
The Arrows scratched out the first run of the game when Miranda Roberts
led the game off with a double to left. Erin Sims followed with a
single moving Roberts to third. Kate Boswell grounded out to second,
scoring Roberts and giving Tecumseh the early 1-0 lead.
Greenville countered with a run in the bottom of the frame. With one
down, senior shortstop Kelly Martin reached on a fielders choice. One
out later, senior pitcher Ashley Hanes tripled to left, scoring Martin
and getting the Wave even with one inning in the books.
Greenville would score the final run of the game in the second when
Taylon French reached and was knocked home with a two base shot to
right off the bat of Brionna Greer.
With all the runs being scored, it then became a pitching duel. In the
final six innings, Hanes would allow just two hits, one in the third
and one in the sixth.
On the other side of the diamond, Tecumseh pitcher Erin Sims would be
equally as good. After allowing the winning run in the second, Sims
allowed just four hits.
Even more impressive, was the defenses from both teams as neither side
committed an error.
“This was a scratch free game,” said Newland. “Neither team made a
mistake. They got off the bus, kept us off balance with their pitching.
Did we hit the ball well... absolutely not (six hits) but we played
well enough to win.”
With Springfield Shawnee the next opponent for the Wave, Newland
realizes the offense has to improve.
“Our hitting will be better next Tuesday,” Newland stated. “We haven’t
had a close game in a long while and we needed this. If we would have
come out and won easy who knows, but this was a humbling moment for us.
At this time of year, anything can happen. This is fast pitch at its
best.”
It was just over a week ago Newland said this sectional was made up
mostly of team from the Central Buckeye Conference and it was not going
to be easy.
With a 2-1 final over a sub .500 team, the CBC proved what it’s made of.
“At the time of the draw, they were 8-8 and now they are 10-14 or
something like that but on any given day with this game, you have to
take it one pitch and one batter at a time,” Newland stated. “We took
the bye because with the weather and balls hopping weird ways. We are
just fortunate to move to the next level.”
Greenville will play Shawnee at Tecumseh next Tuesday starting at five.
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