Alyssa Miller of Jonathan Alder prepares to fire the ball toward the plate. She struck out 11 during a tournament win over Heath.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
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Riley Magginis drove in a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth, pushing Jonathan Alder’s softball squad to a 5-1 triumph over Heath on Monday.
The second-seeded Lady Pioneers (21-4) held a slim 2-1 lead over the 12th-ranked Bulldogs as action moved into the home half of the sixth during the Division II district semifinal contest.
Magginis smoked a line drive for a base hit that plated two of Alder’s three runs in the frame and helped stake Jonathan Alder to a 5-1 lead.
Lady Pioneer pitcher Alyssa Miller then kept Heath off the scoreboard in the visitors’ portion of the seventh to seal the tournament triumph.
Miller scattered five hits and fanned 11.
“Alyssa threw the ball well,” said Pioneer head coach Dave McGrew.
Jonathan Alder tallied single runs in the second and third innings.
The Bulldogs narrowed their deficit to 2-1 in the top of the fifth.
Natalie Neumeier finished the game with two of JA’s five hits.
Also hitting safely for Jonathan Alder were Evan Platfoot and Shanna Higgins.
The Lady Pioneers will return to post-season play later this week.
They will play at Pickerington Central High School against No. 5 Bloom-Carroll.
The district championship game will be played either Friday or Saturday.
It has not been decided what days each division will play at Pickerington Central.
“I think they are waiting to see what happens during Division I games this week before making the final dates and times for the championship games,” said McGrew.