Valley softball takes care of business, reaches district semifinals
HANOVER ― Licking Valley senior Abbe McNabb has a little more spring in her step these days, for more reasons than one.
Not only does she want to extend her final season for as long as possible, but she should be well-rested for the Panthers' Division II tournament run.
It continued Wednesday with a 10-0, five-inning win against visiting Highland, keeping fourth-seeded Valley (18-8) at home at 5 p.m. Monday for a Division II district semifinal against 15th seed Hamilton Township (5-17). And McNabb was the catalyst, twirling a four-hitter with 11 strikeouts and also driving home two runs with a pair of hits.
"She was really on today," Coach Chad Dennis said. "Riseball, curveball, dropball were all good, and the last four or five games, she's been really good. She's been our number one for four years, and the big thing is, Rylee Pitt and Tori Baughman have been able fill in well for her, and now she's fresh for the tournament."
Added freshman leadoff hitter D'Neya Dennis, who had three hits and scored three runs: "She had her stuff today and pitched really well, and even when she doesn't have her best, she's still dominating."
McNabb got all the runs she would need during a four-run second inning, with Dennis and Taylor Penick delivering run-scoring singles, McNabb had an RBI fielder's choice and Dennis stole home. McNabb later added an RBI single over the first base bag.
Then the Panthers forced the mercy with a four-run fifth. Zoey Shaw tripled off the right field fence and scored on a Liz Korns hit, Hailey Smith singled and later came home on a wild pitch, Chloe Cooperider followed with a run-scoring double and Baughman ended the game, ripping an RBI single to center.
"We hit the ball really well today, and our speed helps," coach Dennis said.
McNabb took care of the rest in the circle, not issuing a walk and facing only 18 batters. She had to deal with a first and third jam with no outs in the third by the 11th-seeded Scots (5-15), but then got a pair of strikeouts and third baseman Shaw threw a runner out at the plate.
"I knew I had to throw strikes, because my defense was behind me, like they have been all season," she said. "My curveball was working and kept them off balance."
Ninth graders Dennis and Baughman have perfectly blended into Valley's attack, with Dennis providing speed at the top and Baughman pop in the cleanup spot.
"I know if I get on, Taylor (Penick) and Abbe (McNabb) are going to hit me in," Dennis said. "We all get along really well, and if some small problem comes up, we resolve it. When we go out to eat or something, it's all of us, not just a few of us. We talk to teach other in the halls."
Observed McNabb: "This year, we've become friends and bonded together well. We treat each other as equals, no matter what grade we're in."
The Panthers did not look past Highland and will take the same approach against Hamilton Township, even with a possible third meeting with state-ranked, top-seeded Granville looming in the district finals. The Blue Aces won 6-3 and 5-1 in the earlier Licking County League-Buckeye Division contests.
Coach Dennis said Valley was wary of Highland coming in.
"We knew they were going to compete. They scored 22 runs against Whitehall," he said. "We can't take anyone lightly."
Added D'Neya Dennis: "We can't play down to the level of teams. We have to play hard the whole time, and play harder than them."
McNabb said the Panthers must maintain their focus of one pitch, one play, one inning at a time.
"We're not looking ahead," she said. "We have to take care of business, no matter who we're playing."
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Valley softball takes care of business, reaches district semifinals
