'We've got our shot': Marlington softball thrilled to win district, head to OHSAA regoinals

JEFFERSON — It was everything a district title game should be — with superb pitching, incredible defense, and one clutch hit that decided it.

State powers Marlington and Aurora treated fans to a gem in a Division II district title softball game at sun-splashed Lehotsky Field Thursday afternoon.

When the infield dust settled from the showdown, it was the No. 1-seeded Dukes who punched their ticket to the Sweet 16 with a thrilling 1-0 win over the No. 3-seeded Greenmen.

“I’m ecstatic for these girls because every goal we’ve set to this point we’ve accomplished,” beamed Marlington head coach Joe Tagliarini. “It’s easy to say but it’s hard to go out there and execute every day, so I’m really proud of their effort and the way they stay the course.”

“We tried different approaches coming in,” noted Aurora head coach Sam Petrash of the tough matchup with the Dukes (25-1). “The first part was we had to pick where we wanted to go (in the sectional-district). You’re looking at Canfield or you’re looking at Marlington, because our district is just super loaded. It’s pick your poison.”

The Dukes combined another outstanding pitching performance by senior standout Sofia Nase (now 19-0) with several incredible defensive plays by shortstop Audrey Miller and center fielder Chyanne Knapp, along with what turned out to be the game-winning hit by senior Emma Jackson in the third inning, to advance.

“We thought maybe we would have better luck with our pitcher of shutting down their offense and maybe getting to their pitcher and we weren’t able to do that,” observed Petrash. “She (Nase) did a really nice job.”

The Dukes play in a regional semifinal at 2 p.m. Wednesday against ninth-seeded St. Vincent-St. Mary at Nordonia High School. STVM advanced Thursday with a 10-7 win over Coventry, which was the top-seed in its sectional-district. Marlington will be making its second trip to the regional in the past three years.

“We’ve got our shot,” said Tagliarini. “This was one of the goals before the season started and now it’s time to take care of business. The girls have prom this weekend, so we’re going to give them a couple days off and we’ll get back at it early next week.”

Thursday’s district title game featured a battle between two of the premier pitchers in Ohio in Nase and Aurora’s McKennah Metzger, and both players were superb. Nase struck out seven and walked just two in her shutout win. She surrendered just six just hits.

“This totally is (a personal highlight), especially against a team like this,” said Nase, who deflected the credit away from herself and to her teammates. “We knew she (Metzger) was going to be a really, really hard pitcher to hit, but Audrey Miller got on the ball almost every single time she was at-bat and we were able to just get in there and get our run because they (the Greenmen) played a really good game.”

“She (Nase) spins the ball so well,” lauded Tagliarini. “That (Aurora) team had won 13 games in a row, they have a lot of high-level players and I have a lot of respect for their coaching staff and their program. It was just two good teams going at it.”

Meanwhile, Metzger was the hard-luck loser, going the distance, surrendering five hits and one run while striking out seven and walking one

“We knew we had a great pitcher but against a high-level pitcher like Metzger you can’t try to score five and six runs,” said Tagliarini. “I thought if we got to three, I would be ecstatic today, so when it got to one, I’m thinking this is where it has to stay.”

The Dukes scored what turned out to be the winning run in the bottom of the third inning when Miller ripped a shot to right field that was misplayed for a two-base error. Jackson then stepped to the plate and hit a shot between third base and shortstop that sailed through as Miller scampered home to score what turned out to be the winning run.

“It’s huge, especially coming back from an injury,” said Jackson of her winning hit. “Honestly, I was just swinging because we knew she (Metzger) was a good pitcher and she was going to bring it. All you have to do is put the bat on the ball and good things will happen. That’s what we’re taught.”

Tagliarini felt the Dukes’ patience at the plate against a standout pitcher such as Metzger factored in the win.

“Some of the keys was our batting order taking pitches and getting on base and allowing Audrey and Emma to come through and have those extra at-bats,” stated the Dukes’ coach.

Marlington then made its one run stand up with some potential game-saving plays on defense. In the fourth inning, with Aurora’s Sophie Schecterman on second after ripping a double to left, the Greenmen’s Maggie McVicker sent a pitch deep to right-center that could have cleared the fence, but Knapp raced over from center and made an incredible leaping catch to record the third out.

Meanwhile, Miller also made a clutch over-the-shoulder catch from shortstop in the fifth, pivoted and made a deep throw to first to complete a crucial double play.

“With those in-betweeners, with infielders and outfielders, it was just like, I can get them,” said Miller. “I’m going to go, I don’t want them to drop. In a game like this, a 1-0 game, you want to keep them off the bases.”

“It was so wonderful,” praised Nase of the support on defense. “Chyanne Knapp did a wonderful job in the outfield, she’s a really good center fielder and Audrey Miller went for about 12 balls in the outfield and she knows how to get those.”

Finally, with two runners on and the Greenmen threatening in the top of the seventh, Sofia Nase stabbed a liner up the middle to record the third and final out and send the Dukes to the regional.

“They made some really nice plays,” said the Aurora coach of Marlington’s defense. “That one up the middle on the last out, the ball sticks in her glove, and the one in the outfield up against the fence there (were big plays), but that’s how the game goes.”

Offensively, Marlington’s top hitters included Miller (double, walk), Jackson (RBI single), Ashlyn Maurer (single), Knapp (single) and Maria Walder (single).

Aurora’s offensive leaders included Sophie Schecterman (double), Rayna Unverferth (single), Sophie Petrash (single), Abby Dalessandro (two singles) and Sophie Retton (single). Aurora finished its season with a 23-5 overall record.

“Good luck to Marlington,” said the Aurora head coach who loses just one senior to graduation. “We’re super excited about our team and what we have coming back and we think our turn is next year.”

Meanwhile, Marlington’s Miller can’t wait for the regional.

“I’m ready to go and we want to go as far as we can,” said the junior standout. “I’m just so proud of this team and all of the seniors — this is for them.”

This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Marlington Dukes softball beats Aurora in OHSAA district final