Happy teammates prepare to congratulate Jonathan Alder’s Evan Platfoot (10) as she trots home after a round-tripper against Logan Elm. An 8-5 setback, however, ended the Lady Pioneers’ season during a Division II regional semifinal game. For more photos, go to www.marysvillejt.com.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)
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Jonathan Alder had itself in hot water for a good part of Wednesday’s Division II regional softball semifinal against Logan Elm at Pickerington Central.
Battling their way through a relentless amount of high-temperature situations, the Lady Pioneers were able to withstand the pressure put upon them by the Braves.
Until they didn’t.
A three-run home run by Taylor Fowler in the top of the seventh inning was the final shot by Logan Elm as Jonathan Alder lost 8-5.
In each of the first three innings, Logan Elm threatened to score.
JA pitcher Alyssa Miller and her teammates, though, were able to work their way out of trouble.
The Lady Pioneers scored the first run of the game as senior Evan Platfoot rocketed a Sadie Binkley pitch over the centerfield fence in the bottom of the third.
Alder made it 2-0 in the fourth on a RBI-single from Abby Bush.
Logan Elm sent nine batters to the plate in the top of the fifth, collecting six hits that turned into five runs.
Alder, however, bounced back in the bottom of the fifth by scoring two runs.
Maggie McCoy started things with a one-out double.
She then scored on a single by Natalie Neumeier.
Neumeier later crossed the plate on a single by Anna Engle.
The Lady Pioneers notched the tying run in the bottom of the sixth as Platfoot doubled in Bush, who had walked to start the inning.
An error by Logan Elm put JA runners on second and third with one out.
Binkley, though, sandwiched two pop fly outs around an international walk to Kiersten Dolby to keep the game tied.
“We should have scored more runs in the sixth inning,” Jonathan Alder head coach Dave McGrew said. “We just needed one more hit, but that is the way softball is.”
Logan Elm (20-8) immediately put itself in position to score as Jayce Clifton worked a leadoff walk and Lucy Caplinger followed with a single in the seventh.
Miller was able to retire the next batter on a pop fly, but Fowler blasted her game-winning blast over the fence in right center field.
The Braves did not score any more runs, but the damage was done.
The Lady Pioneers were retired in order in the bottom of the seventh and finished the season with a 22-5 record.
Platfoot was proud of the way her team kept battling.
“We fought back and kept up energy,” Platfoot said
Platfoot sat out the 2023 softball season to concentrate on basketball. However, she was eager to get back with her teammates for her senior campaign.
“I missed it and was really glad I decided to play this year,” she said “I am really proud of our team. We made a lot of goals.”
One of the goals was the Central Buckeye Conference Kenton Trail title which Jonathan Alder shared with Kenton Ridge.
Another was a second district championship in three years.
However, a quest for another state Final Four was not to be this year for the Lady Pioneers.
“It just wasn’t our day today,” McGrew said.
LE 000 050 3—8-13-1
JA 001 121 0—5-10-1