Jonathan Alder’s Evan Platfoot connects on a hit during the home game against Urbana. The senior Lady Pioneer scored three runs in the team’s win against the Lady Hillclimbers.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)
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Jonathan Alder’s softball squad wasted no time in blanking visiting Urbana, 16-0, in its first game back from spring break. The contest ended early on the run rule.
“Urbana is rebuilding so it is hard to get a true gauge there,” JA head coach Dave McGrew said.
After a fruitful Florida getaway during the school’s spring break, the Lady Pioneers were eager to return to Ohio’s softball scene.
“We had a great trip down in Florida,” McGrew said. “It was good for us, but we just need to play here (in Ohio), so we can’t afford to have all these games get backed up.”
However, frustrations with the weather forced cancelations Monday and Tuesday leading up to Wednesday’s Central Buckeye Conference matchup.
JA pitcher Alyssa Miller proved to be a challenge for the visiting Lady Hillclimbers. The senior Capital Unniversity commit notched seven strikeouts.
JA’s defense quelled Urbana in the top of the first inning.
Urbana pitcher Ollie Richards walked JA’s Evan Platfoot prior to the senior stealing second base in the bottom of the first.
Richards walked Maggie McCoy to put two runners on base.
Shanna Higgins’ single to center field allowed Platfoot to round third for the team’s first run.
Caroline Timberlake (subbed in for McCoy) later scored JA’s next run.
A sacrifice fly by Natalie Neumeier produced another score after Higgins tagged from third and put JA up 3-0.
With two outs, Richards stopped the bleeding with a strikeout.
Miller notched three strikeouts in the top of the second.
The Lady Pioneers were then quick to grow their lead.
JA produced a prosperous second inning with eight additional runs.
With the bases loaded, a wild pitch allowed Platfoot to score the fourth run of the day.
Kiersten Dolby and Neumeier both drove in two runs as the advantage expanded to 8-0.
“These girls have been licking their chops to play,” McGrew said.
A break in the action occurred midway in the bottom of the second after blankets of rain forced teams into their respective dugouts.
Returning from the break, JA’s Abby Bush tallied an RBI with Neumeier running in for the score. McCoy also collected another RBI for a 10-0 lead.
Another wild pitch from Richards once again allowed Platfoot to score for an 11-0 spread.
Urbana’s next empty trip on offense was followed by Kylie Petersheim’s RBI that drove in Lucy Boyd.
Macy Pruitt took over in the pitching circle for Miller at the top of the fourth.
She kept the visitors off the scoreboard.
Alder stayed on course in the bottom of the fourth. JA added another four runs with Miller and Boyd both getting credit for two RBIs.
Pruitt was then subbed out for relief pitcher Eliza Shuping in the top half of the fifth.
“We were supposed to play Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday this week and any time you can get Alyssa rest, you take it,” McGrew said of the pitching changes. “In fast pitch, you can throw the workhorse pitchers every day and twice on Sunday.
“However, I can show you every time you see that, they don’t have their same stuff at the end of the season for the tournament.”
JA’s pitching staff recorded eight strikeouts. Shuping allowed Urbana’s lone hit.
Alder collected a total of 13 RBIs while recording eight hits.
The local squad also benefitted from four Urbana errors.
The Scarlet and Black improved to 3-1 while earning its first conference win.
The Lady Pioneers will travel to Northwestern today.
“The starters have all earned their spots, but the other girls are making noise,” McGrew said about his supporting cast. “They are putting it down and doing well, which is making things hard (in making out the lineup). Good for them.”
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