GROVEPORT — Teays Valley had little trouble with Westerville North as the No. 1 seed Vikings claimed their second straight district title with a 16-0 win over the Warriors in five innings.
Alyvia Lawrentz threw a one-hit shutout and the TV offense pounded out 18 hits Friday afternoon.
“Lyv’s been consistent for sure and operating at a really high level all year for us. So, I’m glad to see that continue,” TV coach Derrick Hastler said. “I can’t commend her highly enough to talk about how well she’s thrown this year in the circle.”
Other than a first-inning single, Lawrentz faced the minimum number of batters as she struck out nine.
Offensively the Vikings put two runs across in each of the first two innings and then exploded for nine runs in the third.
Thirteen Vikings went to the plate in the third with eight collecting hits (Avery Mann had two in the frame). The big knock came off the bat of Micah Mann as she hit a bases-loaded triple.
Eight more Vikings went to plate as TV added three more runs in the bottom of the fourth.
“We have a goal to try to score at least a run every inning. And we try to teach them not to be satisfied with a lead because you never know what might happen if another team gets hot or has a big inning,” Hastler said. “If you can push runs across every inning, it gives you a chance to be where you want to be.
“And just staying focused and consistent at the plate and hunting quality base hits, that’s been our focus the last couple of days.”
Avery Mann led TV with three hits and she drove in two.
Micah Mann had a pair of hits, scored three times and drove in three. Harper Grimes had two hits, scored three times and drove in two. Hayden Blackstock had two hits, scored twice and had two RBI. Lawrentz had two hits, scored once and drove in one. Avery Stratton also had two hits and she scored twice.
Along with celebrating a second straight district title, Lawrentz, Aimee DeWeese and Sophia Seymour also got to celebrate their high school graduations Friday.
The graduates and their teammates will be getting back to work for their next challenge in a regional semifinal Wednesday afternoon against the winner of the Dubin Scioto-Licking Heights game being played Saturday.
“We’re a one day at a time program. And for about a month now, we’ve just been about stacking days. That’s something that they’re probably tired of me saying is just keep stacking days,” Hastler said. “Every day can we get a little better, can we learn from whatever happened and build on our successes?
“We’re promised today because we’re living in it and we’re lucky when we get tomorrow.”
The Vikings’ (21-5) regional semifinal is set for Pickerington Central and will start at 5 p.m.