Friday, June 01, 2001
Hamilton a win away from softball title
Big Blue earn 5-1 win in state semifinals
By Malcolm C. Knox
The Cincinnati Enquirer
ASHLAND, Ohio — Some of the Hamilton Big Blue players were worried when Whitehouse Anthony Wayne went up 1-0 in the first inning. Turns out they had nothing to worry about.
Hamilton (25-8) advanced to the Ohio Division I state championship softball game by holding the Generals (28-5) to that single run. Hamilton won 5-1; four of those runs came with two outs.
Hamilton plays Youngstown Boardman at 10 a.m. Saturday for the title at Brookside Park in Ashland. Boardman (29-3) advanced by knocking off Hilliard Davidson (29-4), 1-0.
On Thursday, Generals leadoff hitter Chrissy Gothke singled and later scored the first run of the game on a passed ball.
That worried the Big Blue, whose strategy was to get ahead early.
“That's always the plan,” Hamilton pitcher Katie Halcomb said. “That way it's a lot easier to play defense.”
Senior first baseman Melissa Bond said she was “kin da scared.”
Junior third baseman Brandi Jones felt something else.
“I was nervous,” Jones said. “But I was mad at the other team and at us for letting them score.”
In Hamilton's first at-bat, the first two batters grounded out and struck out before sophomore shortstop Autumn Marshall got on base on an error by the first baseman. Jones, who was 2-for-3 and scored twice, hit a triple to deep right field, bringing Marshall home. Senior catcher Jair Short knocked in Jones with a single.
The Big Blue felt the momentum swinging their way.
“They kinda broke down,” Marshall said.
Wayne coach Carolyn Vogtsberger felt the air go out of the balloon too.
“I think giving up those runs to errors in the beginning — we're not used to that,” she said. “We usually play through (errors). Being down 2-1; we weren't used to it.”
Hamilton didn't let another runner get past second base.
In the bottom of the third inning — again with two outs — Jones and Short got on base with singles. Halcomb then singled up the middle, driving in both her teammates.
Halcomb, 2-for-3 with two RBI, produced on the mound too. She had 11 strikeouts, gave up three hits and had two walks in a complete game.
“What can you say about her?” Hamilton coach Steve Heckman said. “We had hits when we needed them. ... They came up here knowing what they had to do.”
Marshall scored again in the sixth as she was driven in from third on Short's second RBI.
Whitehouse ....... 100 000 0—1 3 3
Hamilton ....... 202 010 x—5 7 1
WP—Halcomb (22-6) LP—Heimrich (19-3). Hitting leaders: Hamilton—Jones 2-3 (3B, 2 runs, RBI); Short 2-3 (2 RBI); Halcomb 2-3 (2 RBI). Records: Hamilton (25-8), Whitehouse (28-5)
• Boardman 1, Davidson 0: Freshman Krysta Sylves ter, pinch running for senior pitcher Marissa Bartholomew, scored the game's only run when she was knocked in from second base by freshman Jaclyn Corroto.
Boardman lost in the state championship game last year and expected to return to the title game.
“It means a lot,” head coach Bill Amero said. “It's where we want to be. It's where we expected to be.”
State softball schedule
Hamilton loses baseball semifinal
Sports Stories
Silver lining among Reds' injuries
Larson down, Cromer up
Perez decides to stick it out
Welsh gets chance on national TV
Cardinals sticking with Benes in rotation
Reds-Cardinals Scouting Report
Bengals cut Jones
Graduating McIntosh leaves Xavier
Hamilton a win away from softball title