Central District Division I Championship
SB — No. 7 Teays Valley 8, No. 6 Marysville 7 (8 innings)
PICKERINGTON — In a game that featured four home runs, Avery Stratton had one to be remembered as hers sent Teays Valley to next week’s regional tournament with an 8-7 win over Marysville in eight innings.
With the game tied at 7-7 going into the eighth inning, Stratton led off the inning and hit a 2-2 pitch over the fence in left to put TV in the lead.
The Monarchs managed a two-out single in the bottom of the inning, but a strikeout brought the game to an end.
The win gives the Vikings their first district title since 2018.
With three runs in the fourth, one in the fifth and two in the top of the sixth, the Vikings had built a 6-3 lead.
The Monarchs started the bottom of the sixth with a groundout, followed by a single. After a strikeout, Marysville collected two more singles to load the bases.
Sienna Hutchins then came to the plate and hit a 2-2 pitch over the wall in center for a grand slam and a 7-6 Marysville lead.
Michelle Brumfield started off the top of the seventh with a walk for TV. A fielder’s choice left the Vikings with one base runner and then Abbi Revalee doubled.
Avery Mann was able to tie the game when she hit a ground ball to the first baseman which allowed Isabel Sayre to come in with the Vikings’ seventh run.
Aimee DeWeese pitched eight innings for the Vikings. She gave up 12 hits, walked two and struck out 13.
The Vikings played error-free softball Saturday.
Stratton had three hits for TV and Morgan Cantrell had a solo home run in the fifth.
The Vikings (20-7) will play Lancaster (27-3) in a regional semifinal Wednesday at Big Walnut High School. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.
