Marysville’s Maya Segner (24) tries to get Olentangy’s Nola Tracy (28) at first base, but does not make it in time.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)
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Marysville’s varsity softball team had to overcome a plethora of defensive errors before making a 6-4 comeback win against Olentangy Monday evening.
“I am proud of them,” MHS head coach Jennifer Segner-Maxwell said. “We made some really silly mistakes defensively.”
After splitting a weekend doubleheader against Olentangy Berlin and Hilliard Darby, the Lady Monarchs sought to maintain a winning mindset.
“I am super proud of the team,” junior Sienna Hutchins said. “We had a slow start coming out from spring break, but the improvements we’ve made have been amazing.”
Marysville found itself in the driver’s seat following a scoreless first inning for both squads.
A single by Lauren Mobley was the first time the Lady Monarchs were able to get on base. She was then subbed out for courtesy runner Jillian Rausch.
With two outs in the top of the second, a double by Jaidan Hutchins gave Rausch enough time to round third for Marysville’s first run.
The Lady Monarchs fended off the Lady Braves in the bottom half by securing three outs with the bases loaded.
Sienna Hutchins delivered a bomb to left field in the top of the third. It cleared the fence for a 2–0 lead.
“Having her back is like a little spark,” Segner-Maxwell said. “She came back on Saturday and we’ve seen a spike for sure.”
Feeling the energy from the dugout, the junior felt the offense starting to click.
“I think it gave our team confidence,” Hutchins said. “By hitting that home run, it gave our team confidence in themselves.”
Olentangy started to claw back in the following bottom half. Emelia Dipiero drove in Petra Dissett for the score.
Neither team was able to score in the fourth.
Marysville’s Ella Wood notched an RBI for a 3-1 lead in the fifth.
Ashlynn McAdow raced in for the run.
However, Olentangy struck back in the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings to claim a 4-3 margin.
MHS’ defense struggled during that time with several fielding miscues.
“We had six errors, which is uncharacteristic of us,” Segner-Maxwell said. “We can’t do that against a good team, but they fought back at the plate.”
“We just took it one step at a time,” Hutchins said.
Segner-Maxwell told her players to remain patient with an umpire whose strike zone was a bit narrow.
“We had to wait on our pitch,” she said.
Maya Segner singled in the seventh. Her hit moved Hutchins to second and Rausch to third.
Wood then drove in both runners for a 5-4 MHS lead.
The Lady Monarchs increased their upper hand following Camryn Harbold’s sacrifice fly that scored Segner.
Marysville, which led 6-4, had to outlast the Lady Braves for one last stand.
With two outs already claimed, a pop fly by Olentangy’s Kai Cornelius landed in Hutchins’ glove to end the game.
Josie Bumgarner pitched a complete game for MHS. She yielded seven hits and walked five.
“Josie did a great job in the circle,” Segner-Maxwell said. “She kept them guessing.”
Abi Custodio pitched the first three innings for the Braves. She claimed one strikeout and walked one.
Addi Hulshof went in for four innings. She fanned three Lady Monarchs and walked four.
The Lady Monarchs are 8-7 overall and 4-1 record against Ohio Capital Conference opponents.
“They are doing so much better,” Segner-Maxwell said, despite her crew needing to address some defensive mistakes.
“Today we just had a little setback.”
“I think we need to take our time and trust our training,” Hutchins said about what the team needs to address moving forward.