Jonathan Alder’s Maggie McCoy (22)puts down a bunt during the bottom of the first inning. The sophomore Lady Pioneer recorded two hits against Columbus Eastmoor Academy.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)
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Jonathan Alder’s softball team has advanced to the Division II district semifinal after beating Columbus Eastmoor Academy, 10-0 on Friday.
Three Lady Pioneer pitchers completed a no-hitter against the visiting Lady Warriors. Between them, they notched 14 strikeouts and one walk.
The 10th-seeded Eastmoor squad ventured to Plain City as a result of a 17-2 win against 18th seeded Columbus South just a few days earlier.
With that contest going five innings, the Lady Warriors were on the receiving end of a short-lived matchup against the second-seeded Scarlet and Black.
One inning was all the Lady Pioneers needed to seal enough scores for an eventual run-rule win. All of them came in bottom of the first inning.
“When we took it on the chin with Kenton Ridge, Alyssa got hit in the first inning,” JA head coach Dave McGrew said about Alyssa Miller pitching only one inning. “We’ve been nursing that a little bit and she threw one inning today just to get her through warmup.”
Miller’s only inning inside the circle saw the senior notch three strikeouts.
Eastmoor’s N. Burson proceeded to walk Evan Platfoot to start of the bottom half of the first.
A bunt by Maggie McCoy advanced Platfoot to second. McCoy reached safely.
With one down, Platfoot stole second, while pinch-runner Katelyn Rihl took second.
Kiersten Dolby continued the small ball affair. Her well-placed bunt loaded the bases.
Shanna Higgins followed with two RBIs.
Riley Magginis notched another pair of RBIs moments later jumping to give JA a 4-0 margin.
Gracie Napier’s base hit drove in two more runs for a 6-0 spread.
Caroline Timberlake and Platfoot stayed with the course as JA batted around.
They both notched a couple of ribbies for an 8-0 lead.
Platfoot later raced home plate on a mishandled passed ball.
Dolby then drove in Rihl for the final run.
The officials called Alder out when runners left base early in conclude the inning.
Macy Pruitt took over duties inside the circle for the next three innings. She fanned eight and issued one walk.
Eliza Shuping struck out three in the top of the fifth to seal the victory.
Losing in the circle, Eastmoor’s Burson pitched a complete game. She yielded 17 hits and did not strike out a batter.
McGrew is confident in his team’s ability to not only perform, but to also prepare.
“Nobody prepares better than we do,” he noted. “Nobody scouts and prepares better than we do.”
The Lady Pioneers are slated to take on 12th-seeded Heath today at home with the first pitch set for 5 p.m.
The Lady Bulldogs earned an 11-9 win against sixth-seeded London to advance in the tourney.
“Heath is playing its best ball of the year and we can lose that game easily,” McGrew said. “We can’t take anything for granted and the team knows it… we are ready to roll the sleeves up and get after it.”