Lady Monarch pitcher Tareyn Born fires the ball toward the plate during a game at Thomas Wortington. Born shared pitching duties with Abby Christian.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
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Marysville High School’s varsity softball team won a Division I district title a few weeks ago by using a rather unusual type of pitching rotation.
Junior hurlers Abby Christian and Tareyn Born basically split duties each game as the Lady Monarchs rolled to a 25-4 record.
It was a strategy that surprised both of them once Marysville returned from its spring break trip to Myrtle Beach.
“Coach Segner talked to both of us and said this was what we were going to do for the rest of the season,” said Christian.
It was not a strategy employed during MHS’ six-game, out-of-state venture.
“I had never seen it before and didn’t know whether it was going to work,” said Born.
After head coach Jennifer Segner-Maxwell told the girls what was going to happen, both “just went with it,” said Born.
“We got accustomed to it,” echoed Christian.
Although the strategy was a bit unorthodox, there’s no question it worked.
Marysville won its first district championship in six seasons before bowing out of the post-season during a regional semifinal setback to state tournament-qualifier Watkins Memorial.
Other numbers proved the setup was successful.
Christian posted a 17-1 record with an ERA of less than two runs per game.
Born went 8-3 and also yielded less than a pair of scores for her time in the circle.
Both pitchers came to like the situation as the season progressed.
“It kept hitters from a lot of teams we faced off-balance,” said Christian. “That was the biggest benefit.
“Opposing teams didn’t have time to pick up either of our tendencies.”
“If one of us didn’t have a good inning, the other one usually did,” said Born. “If neither of us had good innings, we were in trouble.
“Actually, it didn’t really feel any different to me.”
Both are playing summer travel ball as a prelude to their final season in the Lady Monarch circle next spring.
Christian plays for the Stingrays, while Born is on the roster of the Finesse.
Both are squads that are based in Columbus.
The Lady Monarch hurlers are using the summer season (which will go through the end of July) to work on their craft.
“I’m working on developing some other pitches,” said Christian. “I’m using my curve, screwball and rise-ball to go with my fastball and change-up.”
“I think I’m getting better with my change and rise-ball,” said Born. “My fastball and change-up worked pretty well during the spring season.”
Christian has been sharing duties in the circle during the summer months.
“I don’t know what my summer record is,” she said. “All I know is I wasn’t in shape to pitch an entire game once the summer season started.
“I’m getting re-adjusted to that.”
Born, on the other hand, has been the No. 1 hurler for her summer squad.
She pitched in eight of the nine games during a recent weekend tournament and posted a 7-1 record.
“I thought my arm was going to fall off,” she joked.
Christian and Born are looking forward to the 2023 campaign.
The Lady Monarchs lost only one senior – third baseman Abby Gindlesberger – from this past season.
“We’ve got a lot of people coming back,” said Christian. “We’re going to be strong in a lot of areas.”
While there is still one more high school season for them, both girls are already looking ahead to the next level.
Neither has made a firm decision on where they want to pitch in college.
Christian said she has been in contact with Ohio Dominican University, Tiffin and Ashland.
Born is also on Ashland’s radar, along with Findlay and Marietta.
“No school is head and shoulders above any other,” they both said.
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Abby Christian of MHS is all business with her delivery to the plate. She and fellow junior Tareyn Born rotated innings in the circle for the Lady Monarchs, who won a Division I district title this spring.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)