Lady Pirates split Valley of Thunder games ahead of SOC play

AID — The Wheelersburg Lady Pirates late rally came up just short as they fell to the Hilliard Bradley Lady Jaguars 3-2 at the Valley of Thunder Softball Showcase on Saturday afternoon.

The Lady Jaguars were first to get on the scoreboard in the second inning.

Sophia Lopez led off with a solo shot over the left field fence. Later, Sammie Moody had a bunt single to score a run and give Bradley a 2-0 lead.

Wheelersburg had a chance to potentially take the lead in the top of the fourth but only managed to just cut the deficit in half.

Ava Estep and Jalynn Drake hit back-to-back singles to reach base. With two outs, Aylin Morrow drew a walk to load the bases and Lauren Truitt drew a walk to move all the runners and make the score 2-1.

Lucy Bennet came on in relief and retired the next batter to get the Lady Jaguars out of the jam.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Lady Jaguars got what proved to be the winning run when Sammie Moody singled to lead off the inning, stole second base and two pitches later scored when Mickey Moody singled to center to give Bradley a 3-1 lead.

In the top of the seventh, Wheelersburg started the inning with two outs. Mati Jennings then doubled to left and Emma Estep followed up with an RBI double to make it 3-2.

Sammie Moody came on and got the next Wheelersburg batter to line out to her to end the game and record the save.

Wheelersburg finished with 9 hits with Estep going 3-4 with a double and an RBI, Jennings went 2-4 with a double, Drake went 2-4, and got a hit apiece from Mullens and Libby Allen.

Rylee Butcher took the loss for Wheelersburg has she gave up 2 earned runs on 6 hits, striking out 4 and walking one.

Lopez went 1-3 with a home run and an RBI, Mickey Moody went 2-3 with an RBI, Sammie Moody went 2-2 with an RBI, and Taylor Nicholson had a hit for the Lady Jaguars.

Dennison earned the win in 3.2 innings of work for Bradley.

Wheelersburg 000 100 1 = 2 9 1

Hilli. Bradley 020 010 x = 3 6 0

Rylee Butcher and Mati Jenkins. Lainey Dennison, Lucy Bennett (4), Sammie Moody (7) and Taylor Nicholson, Addi Boye (5) and Maddie Gent. W-Dennison (IP-3.2, H-4, R-1, ER-1, K-5, BB-2), Bennett (IP-3.0, H-5, R-1, ER-1, K-3, BB-3), S-S. Moody (IP-0.1, H-0, R-0, ER-0, K-0, BB-0). L–Butcher (IP-6.0, H-6, R-3 ER-2, K-4, BB-1). Hitting–Wheelersburg: Jennings 2-4 2B, Ava Estep 3-4 2B RBI, Jalynn Drake 2-4, Makenzie Mullens 1-3, Lauren Truitt RBI, Libby Allen 1-3; Hilliard Bradley-Mickey Moody 2-3 RBI, Taylor Nicholson 1-3, Sophia Lopez 1-3 HR RBI, Sammie Moody 2-2 RBI.

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GAME 2

AID — A strong pitching outing from Emmee Eaton and an explosive offensive performance helped the Wheelersburg Lady Pirates cruise to a 14-0 win over the Pickerington North Lady Panthers in 5 innings at the Valley of Thunder Softball Showcase on Saturday afternoon.

The Lady Pirates got their offense rolling with a two-out rally in the first inning to take a 3-0 lead. Jalynn Drake and Makenzie Mullens both singled in a run and Layna Howard scored on a wild pitch.

In the second inning, Wheelersburg piled up the runs to take a double digit lead.

The scoring rally was highlighted by Eaton's double into left to score a pair of runs and Laura Truitt singled on a 2-1 pitch to drive in two more runs to help build up a 10-0 lead.

Wheelersburg continued to pour it on in the third with three more runs highlighted by Makenzie Mullens' 2-run double.

Eaton also picked up the win for the Lady Pirates, tossing a two-hit shutout in five innings of work. Eaton struck out six of the final seven batters she faced and punched out a total of nine for the game.

The Lady Pirates were led offensively by Eaton who went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI, Mullens went 3-4 with double and two RBI, Truitt went 2-2 with two RBI, Drake went 1-2 with two RBI, Ava Estep went 1-1 with an RBI, Makenna Vaught went 2-3 and Chloe Augustin went 1-1.

Makenna Hartley collected the only hits for the Lady Panthers, finishing 2-for-2 at the plate. Ella Howell took the loss.

Wheelersburg 373 10 = 14 12 1

Pick. North 000 00 = 0 2 6

Emmee Eaton and Mati Jenkins. Ella Howell, Maria Gent (3), Addi Boye (5) and Maddie Gent. W–Butcher (IP-5.0, H-2, R-0 ER-0, K-9, BB-1, WP-0). L-Howell (IP-2.0, H-7, R-10, ER-5, K-3, BB-3, WP-5), Gent (IP-2.0, H-4, R-4, ER-3, K-0, BB-3, WP-2), Boye (IP-1.0, H-1, R-0, ER-0, K-0, BB-0, WP-0). Hitting–Pickerington North: Makenna Hartley 2-2; Wheelersburg: Ava Estep 1-1 RBI, Jalynn Drake 1-2 2-RBI, Emmee Eaton 2-3 2B 3-RBI, Makenzie Mullens 3-4 2B 2-RBI, Lauren Truitt 2-2 2-RBI, Makenna Vaught 2-3, Chloe Augustin 1-1.