Hilliard — After a dominant win over Bishop Ready and a hard-fought battle against Hilliard Davidson, the Dublin Scioto softball team left their season-opening doubleheader with plenty of optimism. Now led by Nebraska pitching legend Tatum Edwards, the Lady Irish are looking ahead with high hopes.
Despite the harsh wind and overcast skies, the Lady Irish wasted no time asserting themselves, rolling past Bishop Ready with a commanding 14-2 victory in five innings.
Alexis Ritchie was dominant in the circle, striking out nine in a complete-game effort while surrendering just two hits and two unearned runs. She also contributed at the plate, going 2-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBIs. Sophia Jackson and Katy Joseph each ripped doubles with an RBI, while Gigi Rodriguez added two RBIs to fuel the offense.
In the second game against Davidson, Gina Wasko wasted no time setting the tone, launching a solo home run to open the game.
However, the Wildcats responded with a big second inning, surging ahead to a 5-1 lead. The Lady Irish refused to back down, chipping away at the deficit. Freshman Avery Reynolds, making her high school debut, delivered a clutch two-RBI double before coming around to score on a passed ball, closing the gap to 5-4.
Reynolds battled through the tough conditions and tallied 13 strikeouts in the circle, a performance that impressed Coach Edwards. “I believe in her all day, every day,” Edwards said. “I could have pulled the plug, but I wanted to see what she had. She showed she had the stamina and the competitive nature to get through it.”
Hilliard Davidson extended its lead to 7-4, but Scioto stormed back in the fifth inning to reclaim control.
Alexis Ritchie ignited the rally with a two-run home run, cutting the deficit to 7-6. Avery Reynolds then capitalized on another passed ball to tie the game before Sophia Jackson brought home the go-ahead run on a fielder’s choice, giving the Lady Irish their first lead at 8-7.
Holding a 9-8 lead entering the bottom of the seventh, Scioto quickly found themselves in trouble as the first two Davidson batters reached base.
A double steal attempt led to a rundown, allowing MacKenzie Buzzard to cross home and tie the game at 9-9. With two outs and Ellen Adams standing on third, Kendall Manos drilled a ball to third base that Scioto couldn’t handle, bringing Adams home for the walk-off, sealing a dramatic 10-9 victory for Davidson.
Despite a strong effort, the Lady Irish were undone by four costly defensive errors, leading to three unearned runs. Edwards, though, remained optimistic about the team’s growth after the loss. “I think we got punched in the face in the beginning, but then we responded really well,” she said. “We have been talking about what kind of response we want to have as a team, and I am proud of how they did that.”
Moving forward, Dublin Scioto showed glimpses of the potential they possess on the diamond. How far can they go? Well, Edwards believes they can go quite far. “These kids have a work ethic that I appreciate and see every single day,” she said. “I think we can go really far. They have all the tools to be successful.”
Dublin Scioto (1-1) hosts Reynoldsburg for a doubleheader next Saturday in Dublin.
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