Bradley’s Andrea Day beats the throw and scores what would become the winning run in the Jags 3-2 defeat of Tri-Valley to capture another District Title. (Press Pros Feature Photos by Brian Bayless)
Loghan Cromer twice executed perfect bunt singles to jump start Bradley’s offense while freshman Mickey Moody delivered a clutch two-RBI hit and picked up the save in relief of Jillian Meszaros.
Pickerington, OH – In 39 years coaching softball at each of the three Hillard high schools, Kevin Moody’s teams have developed a trademark style: Make contact at the plate, create havoc on the basepaths and find a way to scratch out enough runs to complement solid pitching and airtight defense.
Moody-ball was on full display Saturday as third-seeded Hilliard Bradley edged gritty 10th-seeded Dresden Tri-Valley 3-2 to capture a Division I Central District title on Championship Saturday at Pickerington Central’s four-diamond complex.
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“That was a tough one for us,” said a relieved Moody afterward. “Our kids are always looking for a way to grab something extra and today was a perfect example of that. Looking back at it, I really think that bunt singles by (catcher Loghan) Cromer set the tone for both of our big innings.”
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In the bottom of the first, Cromer laid down a perfect one-out bunt single. With Cromer running on the pitch, Taylor Hopkins hit a chopper to shortstop. A high throw to first left baserunners at second and third.
Freshman first baseman Mickey Moody, daughter of the coach, delivered with a seeing-eye two-RBI single that somehow found a hole and dribbled into into right field.
“I kind of see that as my specialty, using the short game to get (leadoff hitter) Andrea Day around the bases and let our three and four hitters do their job.”
Starting pitcher Jillian Meszaros winds and delivers during a District Final game at Pickerington Central against Tri-Valley.
The second time through Tri-Valley’s lineup proved to be a challenge for Bradley starter Jillian Meszaros.
In the fourth inning, Cyndee Wolford hit an infield single off the glove of Meszaros and Ally Peterson singled. With two outs, Alivia Reffitt hit an RBI single, then Larsyn Holdsworth doubled to the left-center field gap to tie it 2-2. Reffitt, however, was thrown out at the plate when centerfielder Sophia Lopez and shortstop Cora Moine c0nnected on a dazzling relay. The explosive collision left the dazed Reffitt in a heap for several minutes.
Day, a speedy third baseman who has signed to play at Akron, led off the fifth with a double to the gap. Cromer dropped another sublime bunt single down the third base line, then continued running and took second without a throw.
“I thought we might be able to get them in a pickle play and try to score, but they weren’t even covering second so I took it,” Cromer said.
Hopkins hit a sacrifice fly to right field to bring in Day – the program’s career leader in hits and stolen bases – with the go-ahead run.
Sophia Lopez tracks down a grounder in the outfield and hits her relay during a defensive battle that saw the Jags capture their second-in-a-row District Title.
Moody entered in relief in the sixth and promptly walked leadoff hitter Paiton Murphy on four pitches. She walked another batter but got out of the jam.
“I was pretty nervous and had some trouble throwing strikes, but I knew my defense would pick me up,” Moody said.
She picked up steam and mowed down the Scotties (22-6) in the seventh for the save. Meszaros, a senior who has signed to play at Wooster, ran her record to 13-0. Moody is 11-1.
“I’m really proud of the way Jillian responded after I took her out of a game she really wanted to finish,” Kevin Moody said. “She battled hard but Tri-Valley stayed disciplined at the plate all game. Mickey throws with a lot more speed while Jillian junks and spins it, so the change there seemed to make sense.”
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With their second straight title and third in program history, Jaguars (25-1) – sixth-ranked in the final state coaches poll — earned a regional rematch with second-ranked Watkins Memorial (28-1) at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Big Walnut. The Warriors beat Bradley 3-1 en route to a third straight regional title.
Watkins Memorial blanked Olentangy Orange 10-0 as Carsyn Cassidy allowed only one hit, striking out 13 and walking just one. The Michigan State signee ran her season record to 26-0 with an ERA of just under 0.30.
Second-seeded Lancaster (27-3) and seventh-seeded Teays Valley (21-7) will square off in the other regional semifinal at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Avery Zwilling gets up and shags a high throw for an out to help protect Bradley’s one-run lead late in the game.
Reese Poston tossed a one-hitter with 11 strikeouts and also hit a bases-empty home run to pace Lancaster’s 2-0 win over Olentangy Liberty. It marked the third district title in four years for the fifth-ranked Golden Gales.
Teays Valley knocked off sixth-seeded Marysville 8-7 in a wild district final. After having the go-ahead run taken off the board by a baserunner interference call at the plate in the seventh, the Vikings got a bases-empty homer by Avery Stratton in the top of the eighth to win it. Sienna Hutchins hit a grand slam to pace Marysville.
Other district champions crowned Saturday were Granville and Jonathan Alder in Division II, Liberty Union and West Jefferson in Division III and Mechanicsburg in Division IV.
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