Veterans lift Watkins Memorial past Hilliard Bradley into regional softball final
SUNBURY — Cortney Dobbs knew what she was looking for Wednesday, and when the senior got it, the Watkins Memorial softball team had an early 1-0 lead.
Dobbs smacked an RBI double off the center-field fence in the first inning, and junior Maleya Thompson added a two-run double in the third, powering the Warriors (29-1) to a 3-0 victory against the Jaguars (25-2) in a Division I regional semifinal at Big Walnut. Thompson previously singled with two outs and scored on Dobbs’ hit in the first inning.
“I was looking for (Bradley right-hander Jillian Meszaros) to bring me outside,” Dobbs said. “She threw me two balls, then brought me outside, and I drilled it. When I went up, I said, ‘Me and you, Maleya, let’s go.’ I can always trust her. With two outs, we’re getting on every time.”
Dobbs’ double turned out to be enough for star right-hander Carsyn Cassady, who threw another gem. Cassady struck out 12 against just one walk, firing a three-hit shutout.
Watkins plays Lancaster for a regional title at 5 p.m. Friday at Big Walnut. The Golden Gales beat Teays Valley 10-0 in Wednesday’s later semifinal. The Warriors, who have won three consecutive regional titles, beat the Golden Gales 4-1 on April 20.
“We know they are out to get us,” Dobbs said. “It makes us play harder.”
Junior Kyliee Trouten, moved into the leadoff spot after an injury suffered by sophomore Alli Langwasser in Saturday’s district final, led off the third inning with a single. Senior Jordyn Wycuff followed with a single off the body of Meszaros.
Thompson fell into an 0-2 hole before a wild pitch moved the runners up to second and third. Thompson rocketed a line drive up the left-center gap on the next pitch to score both runners.
“I was just thinking to hit the ball, get it on the ground and score your girls,” said Thompson, who failed on a bunt attempt earlier in the at-bat. “It just happened to go to the fence. It keeps the rally going when something unexpected happens.”
Mickey Moody relieved for Bradley during that bottom of the third and kept Watkins off the board with help from an inning-ending 5-2-3 double play. She also pitched around Trouten’s double in the fourth.
Cassady’s day was not without drama as Andrea Day’s leadoff double and a following error put Bradley runners at second and third to start the game, but two strikeouts sandwiched a foul popup to Wycuff behind the plate. Cassady later stranded two runners in both the fourth and fifth innings.
“We got kicked in the mouth to start with a double and a dropped ball,” Watkins coach Mike Jellison said. “It was second and third no outs, and the game was 10 seconds old. Our girls responded. That’s part of the experience of being here. It kind of lit us up little a bit. We got fired up and took off from there.”
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Veterans lift Watkins Memorial into OHSAA regional softball final
