Cora Hall was stellar again for Sheridan softball. This time, she had plenty of help.
ATHENS — This was no ordinary Tuesday with Mauri.
This one, in fact, was way better than most.
Mauri O'Brien's first career home run, with her team leading by a single run, was among the most important highlights of Sheridan's 4-1 win against Athens during a Division II district semifinal at Ohio University.
For the calculated freshman, it was one of her biggest moments during a strong inaugural varsity campaign. There figures to be many more as the top-seeded Generals (23-3) chase another regional trip at 4 p.m. on Friday against Circleville Logan Elm (18-8). The fourth-seeded Braves, who blanked Waverly, 10-0, in their semifinal, have won three straight after dropping five in succession.
"I'm just so happy to be part of this great team," O'Brien said, shortly after being presented with the ball she hit over the fence. "I think we're all just meshing together."
O'Brien's homer in the second inning came one inning after junior Payton Powell's two-out RBI single in the first got Sheridan on the board early.
The rest was up to ace pitcher Cora Hall, who allowed just two hits and benefitted from a defense that didn't commit an error. It was in stark contrast to a Bulldog defense that made four errors on dropped pop flies alone.
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It ran Sheridan's winning streak to 19 after a 4-3 start.
"She is definitely a kid who can hit the ball well," Paxton said of O'Brien. "She is still getting used to varsity pitching. You could tell in those next couple of at-bats when they threw some different speeds at her. But there is no doubt that she is a freshman who can hit it."
Paxton said it took some time to piece the team together during the season's early stages, which included road games with blue bloods Springfield Kenton Ridge, John Glenn and Wheelersburg.
Within a few weeks, the machine was greased up and humming. It has continued, as the pitching of Hall and Megan Ranck have supported a lineup that effectively mixes power and small ball tactics.
O'Brien's long ball and Hall's double off the wall was accompanied by Hayley Clifton's squeeze that made it 4-0 in the fifth.
"Now the pieces are in place and people are understanding their roles," Paxton said. "Some roles change from year to year, then you put the puzzle back together. Not one piece of the puzzle is more important than the other in any given situation."
This season, it has meant senior Avery Mueller moving from catcher to third base while her freshman sister, Hailey, assumed catcher's duties. Hall said after Tuesday's game that it has been rare when she and little Mueller have had miscommunications.
As for Avery, her defense on the corner filled a key hole. The Ohio Dominican signee made a timely catch against the dugout with runners on base on Tuesday, helping quell a rally.
She also had two of the team's nine hits out of the leadoff spot, including a sixth-inning double that was the 100th hit of her career.
The mix of youth like Hall, Avery Mueller and Powell with the up-and-comers like O'Brien and Brooke Cadigan have made this a team with an interesting — and effective — mix of talent.
Of the seven players who had hits off Athens pitcher Fern Sigman, five were from underclassmen. Senior Avery Davis added two singles and Mylie Forgrave scored twice running for Hall, who doubled off the wall, reached on a dropped fly ball and was intentionally walked.
"We have a lot of young kids who have bright futures," Hall said. "It's pretty exciting, especially with my senior year coming up. After I am gone the program will be in good hands, especially if Paxton keeps coaching like he has been."
sblackbu@gannett.com; X: @SamBlackburnTR
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Cora Hall pitches Sheridan to 19th straight win, district final berth
