Jonathan Alder’s Natalie Neumeier (30) celebrates the last out of the district title game in the top of the seventh inning.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)
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A 5-2 victory over rival Bloom-Carroll earned Jonathan Alder’s softball team a Division II district championship on Saturday.
The game was played at Pickerington Central High School.
“I am super proud of all of the team,” Riley Magginis said. “We’ve preached that it takes more than one person to go as far as we can.”
The second-seeded Lady Pioneers (21-4) endured an early lead by fifth-seeded Bloom-Carroll before making a comeback in the bottom of the sixth.
Magginis delivered a home run to center field in the bottom of the sixth which bumped the Scarlet and Black into the lead.
Jonathan Alder’s ability at the plate produced nine hits, compared the Lady Bulldogs’ six.
Last season, Alder came up short in the Division II district final against Highland.
This year’s championship victory did not come without some adversity.
“I think we have grown as a team and added a few players, but overall it is the same team,” senior Alyssa Miller said. “Our chemistry has just grown.”
BC’s Hayden Hubner stood on first base before a double from teammate Allie Martin advanced her to third base in the top of the second.
Miller’s ensuing wild pitch gave Hubner time to slide home.
Martin advanced to third base at the same time.
Rachel Grove padded the lead at 2-0 by driving in Martin.
At that point, Jonathan Alder head coach Dave McGrew called timeout.
“When I called time and had that meeting in the circle I said, ‘we are fine’,” he explained. “They kept grinding.”
“It was mostly the nerves,” Miller said about her struggles inside the circle. “He called time just to take a deep breath.”
In the bottom of the third, Kiersten Dolby cut Alder’s deficit. Her double drove in Shanna Higgins.
After advancing to third, Dolby tagged on Magginis’ sacrifice fly to knot the score at 2-2.
The fourth and fifth innings were scoreless.
Bloom-Carroll was also kept off the scoreboard in the visitors’ portion of the sixth.
The Lady Bulldogs dipped into their pitching staff for the bottom of the sixth.
They opted to replace sophomore Madilyn Walters with freshman Emma Brandt.
The switch did not phase the Lady Pioneers, who went on to take over the lead on Magginis’ two-run round-tripper.
It was her second home run of the season.
“I am still numb,” McGrew said about the sudden change in momentum. “She (Magginis) hits the ball hard and she was startled… I just love this group.”
“For a while, we were struggling just a little,” Magginis said. “In my head I was like ‘let’s just hit.’
“It was super exciting and made us all pumped up,” she said.
Abby Bush kept Alder’s fans charged with a double.
She advanced to third on a fielder’s choice off Gracie Napier’s bat.
Evan Platfoot singled in Bush for a 5-2 advantage.
The Scarlet and Black held firm in the top of the seventh to claim the district championship.
Miller pitched a complete game, allowing two runs on six hits.
She struck out four and issued a pair of walks.
The senior has been nursing an injury to her throwing arm much of this season and was happy with how she stayed in the game.
“I am feeling a lot of love from the team, family and friends,” Miller said. “It was a battle, but it just shows how much we can do in the future.”
For the first five innings, BC’s Walters allowed two runs on five hits. She fanned four and walked two.
Brandt allowed three runs on four hits.
The Lady Pioneers’ hopes and aspirations are still high following the district final win. With the season still alive, McGrew has full confidence in his crew to get the job done.
“These kids root hard for the kid that’s in for them,” he said. “I am just blessed.”
“I think it’s one game at a time, but we are as hungry as you can get,” Miller said about the team’s mindset heading forward.
The Lady Pioneers will open regional tournament action at Pickerington Central on Wednesday.
The first pitch will be thrown at 2 p.m. against Logan Elm.
BC 020 000 0-2 6 0
JA 002 003 x-5 9 1
WP: Miller
LP: Brandt