Many moments led to perfect SCOL season for Lady Tigers
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Looking back at the South Central Ohio League softball season for the McClain Lady Tigers, a few words come to mind, one being "unsatisfied" as the team was unsatisfied until they reached their goal of being undefeated in the league.
Another word that comes to mind is "perfect," as they in fact did not lose a single SCOL game this season, defeating their opponents 119-27 in 12 games.
All-in-all, a word that can best describe the 2012 SCOL season of the back-to-back SCOL champion Lady Tigers is … "moments," as in there were many moments that led to the rare accomplishment of going undefeated in SCOL softball.
Those moments occurred all season long in league play, such as the 11-inning, 6-5 win on a very windy day at Madison-Plains High School, as that was a game where MHS battled major adversity after allowing MP to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Another was a close 2-0 win at London where small ball proved to be just enough for the Lady Tigers.
[[In-content Ad]]A lot goes to unsung plays, whether it be a running catch on a fly ball in the outfield by Janelle Coleman or the hustle on an infield fly by diving catcher Jenna Perie. It could be the shortstop and second base double play combo of Kate Crabtree and Emily Sterling or the courage of playing at the corners of the infield by catching line drives from Sasha Lawwell or Brittany Mullikin.
More moments that don't show up in the box scores that led to the title could be the lead-off slap bunt ability of Cierra Landrum. In a game where MHS hosted London, she totaled 16 bases as she was 3-for-3 in the 7-2 win.
What about the decision by freshman Shania Massie to join the team this season? She's become the "Babe Ruth" of the team with seven home runs in ’12, with a few coming in SCOL play, including a three-run home run in the very first SCOL game of the year vs. Madison-Plains.
There is also junior Morgan Dettwiller, who has moved many runners over into scoring position and knocked in runners as well, along with Alli Willett, who has had some clutch hits this season. Not to forget the bench play of Jenna Jett, Sarah Thompson, Caitlyn Lovett and Katy Unger, who all have stepped up to the plate when so asked, whether it be getting a hit, playing the field or being a courtesy runner.
As mentioned earlier, a variety of moments have led to the point of MHS winning 23 of their past 24 league games, including a loss last season to Madison-Plains that cost them their perfect league. That moment led to the attitude of this season ... to win every league game no matter the opposition presented.
Against Hillsboro in Greenfield, MHS was tied early in the game at 2-2, only to use a seven-run inning to their advantage. Versus Washington, MHS scored nine of their 10 runs in the first two innings, and there was also the day in Clarksville where the Lady Tigers totaled 18 hits against the host Lady Falcons.
At Miami Trace, a four-run sixth inning put the game away for a 12-1 win, and at Hillsboro, after another self-described "slow start," the Lady Tigers dominated for a 12-run win.
Then came the SCOL clincher in Washington C.H. where MHS gained a spark for a disagreement involving fans and the plate umpire, but all I know is after the exchange of pleasantries between the umpire and the fans (in the middle of the inning), MHS sent 11 batters in the top of the fifth, scoring five runs which changed the entire complexion of the game.
They followed that with a 10-3 win vs. Clinton-Massie where they overcame a few errors and again had another fifth inning that changed the game.
The league season ended with what else … maybe the biggest moment of the season as Mullikin smashed a three-run walk-off home run, sending McClain to a run-rule win over the visiting Lady Panthers, which set off the celebration.
Again, this season was made of many moments, some seen in-game, others not seen by many when all the work is being put in during practice, and for some, all year long.
Credit assistant coach Mark Dettwiller and head coach Jarrod Haines as they keep the team's focus where it needs to be and are two of the best coaches any team could want.
This season, everything went the way the Lady Tigers needed it to go, one way or another, and all those moments combined led to perfection.
Congratulations, Lady Tigers.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com. Follow Stephen on Twitter @hcpsportseditor.
Another word that comes to mind is "perfect," as they in fact did not lose a single SCOL game this season, defeating their opponents 119-27 in 12 games.
All-in-all, a word that can best describe the 2012 SCOL season of the back-to-back SCOL champion Lady Tigers is … "moments," as in there were many moments that led to the rare accomplishment of going undefeated in SCOL softball.
Those moments occurred all season long in league play, such as the 11-inning, 6-5 win on a very windy day at Madison-Plains High School, as that was a game where MHS battled major adversity after allowing MP to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Another was a close 2-0 win at London where small ball proved to be just enough for the Lady Tigers.
[[In-content Ad]]A lot goes to unsung plays, whether it be a running catch on a fly ball in the outfield by Janelle Coleman or the hustle on an infield fly by diving catcher Jenna Perie. It could be the shortstop and second base double play combo of Kate Crabtree and Emily Sterling or the courage of playing at the corners of the infield by catching line drives from Sasha Lawwell or Brittany Mullikin.
More moments that don't show up in the box scores that led to the title could be the lead-off slap bunt ability of Cierra Landrum. In a game where MHS hosted London, she totaled 16 bases as she was 3-for-3 in the 7-2 win.
What about the decision by freshman Shania Massie to join the team this season? She's become the "Babe Ruth" of the team with seven home runs in ’12, with a few coming in SCOL play, including a three-run home run in the very first SCOL game of the year vs. Madison-Plains.
There is also junior Morgan Dettwiller, who has moved many runners over into scoring position and knocked in runners as well, along with Alli Willett, who has had some clutch hits this season. Not to forget the bench play of Jenna Jett, Sarah Thompson, Caitlyn Lovett and Katy Unger, who all have stepped up to the plate when so asked, whether it be getting a hit, playing the field or being a courtesy runner.
As mentioned earlier, a variety of moments have led to the point of MHS winning 23 of their past 24 league games, including a loss last season to Madison-Plains that cost them their perfect league. That moment led to the attitude of this season ... to win every league game no matter the opposition presented.
Against Hillsboro in Greenfield, MHS was tied early in the game at 2-2, only to use a seven-run inning to their advantage. Versus Washington, MHS scored nine of their 10 runs in the first two innings, and there was also the day in Clarksville where the Lady Tigers totaled 18 hits against the host Lady Falcons.
At Miami Trace, a four-run sixth inning put the game away for a 12-1 win, and at Hillsboro, after another self-described "slow start," the Lady Tigers dominated for a 12-run win.
Then came the SCOL clincher in Washington C.H. where MHS gained a spark for a disagreement involving fans and the plate umpire, but all I know is after the exchange of pleasantries between the umpire and the fans (in the middle of the inning), MHS sent 11 batters in the top of the fifth, scoring five runs which changed the entire complexion of the game.
They followed that with a 10-3 win vs. Clinton-Massie where they overcame a few errors and again had another fifth inning that changed the game.
The league season ended with what else … maybe the biggest moment of the season as Mullikin smashed a three-run walk-off home run, sending McClain to a run-rule win over the visiting Lady Panthers, which set off the celebration.
Again, this season was made of many moments, some seen in-game, others not seen by many when all the work is being put in during practice, and for some, all year long.
Credit assistant coach Mark Dettwiller and head coach Jarrod Haines as they keep the team's focus where it needs to be and are two of the best coaches any team could want.
This season, everything went the way the Lady Tigers needed it to go, one way or another, and all those moments combined led to perfection.
Congratulations, Lady Tigers.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com. Follow Stephen on Twitter @hcpsportseditor.