Scoring an average of 14.2 runs entering a non-league game on Tuesday, Teays Valley had produced plenty of offense in its first five games.
That fact changed against defending district runner-up Olentangy Orange, as the Vikings found themselves in extra innings for the first time this season in a low scoring game.
The Vikings were able to adapt to the challenge and pushed across an unearned run in the eighth to edge the host Pioneers 3-2.
“We scheduled games like this to push our girls, because as well as we’ve swung the bats so far this season, we know we are going to have games where our offense isn’t going to produce like it has been and we have to find another way to win,” Teays Valley coach Derrick Hastler said. “I was pleased with the way the girls stayed with it even though we were struggling a little bit with our bats and how they found a way to win.”
The Vikings turned to their pitching and defense to remain unbeaten on the young season.
Alyvia Lawrentz started the game and went four innings, allowing three hits, an earned run, issuing one walk and striking out two batters. Isabel Sayre tossed the final four frames, scattered five hits and allowed an earned run.
“I was pleased with the way Alyvia competed with her still being very early in her varsity career against a quality opponent. She did a nice job of moving the softball around the zone,” Hastler said. “Isabel came into a tough situation and probably had her heart rate up a little bit, but she battled and was gritty even though she didn’t have her best stuff.
“When you play better teams, sometimes you are going to need good pitching and defense to win the game, and that’s what we had tonight. Our gloves were solid in the field and the girls made a few key plays that aren’t going to show up in the scorebook.”
The Vikings (6-0) reached the scoreboard first with two runs in the third.
Sydney Manring singled to center with one out and Michelle Brumfield joined her on the base pads one out later on a single to left.
Morgan Cantrell then smashed a 2-1 offering to right field for a two-run double.
“We finally barreled up a couple of pitches there in the third and strung some hits together, especially with Morgan coming up with the key hit of the inning,” Hastler said.
Olentangy Orange (3-4) scored once in the fourth and again in the seventh to force extra innings.
Brumfield walked to lead off the eighth advanced to second on a ground out to first by Sayre, stole third and scored when the left fielder tried to make a diving catch on a fly ball hit by Reagan Mengerink that kicked out of her glove.
“Sometimes you have to be a little lucky,” Hastler said. “Michelle worked a walk and advanced into scoring position to where we could take advantage of the error.”
Sayre retired the Pioneers in order in the bottom of the inning to claim the win.
Mengerink and Alyssa Brown each went 2-for-4 to help lead the Vikings, who resume Mid-State League Buckeye Division play on Wednesday at Bloom-Carroll.
