DCS shocks #1 Millersport in OHSAA Tournament
Posted 05/19/14
Coach Heidorn and Coach Schoonover attended the Central Division IV tournament draw two weeks ago at Pickerington Central High School. Delaware Christian School was seeded tenth out of 18 teams by the coaches vote. Coach Heidorn felt like the girls should have been ranked just a bit higher but knew the way to earn the respect of the other coaches was to beat the best. “People in the room looked at us a little funny with the one I chose when I picked the number one team instead of picking a much lower ranked opponent, but I was sure our girls were up for the challenge,” said coach Heidorn. “After playing 13 games against public schools, this season our girls were not going to be intimidated.”
DCS got off to a great start in the first. Emily Cornelius got a one out single, and scored on a triple by Ava Heidorn. She then scored on a hard hit RBI ground out by Kayla Zimmerman. Millersport quickly answered by scoring a pair in the bottom of the first on a bunt single, a walk, a throwing error and a sacrifice fly. Millersport showed why they were the 2014 Mid States League Champion in the bottom of the second as they added three more runs on a walk and a pair of hits.
The Lady Eagles were unfazed and showed their desire in the top of the third. Natalie Plotner was at first after a single but there were two outs. Heidorn singled to move Plotner to second. Zimmerman then smashed a two-strike pitch to left. Plotner scored to make it 5-3, Heidorn went to third and Zimmerman went to second on the throw. Katie Morgan then stepped to the plate and wasted no time in tying the game at five with a clutch liner to leftfield plating both runners.
The defense took control after the second. Heidorn only gave up one hit after the second inning and turned a line drive into a double play. Plotner robbed a Lady Laker in the fourth with a fully extended diving grab and quick under toss to Madie Morgan for an out. Catcher Liz Sullivan ended a threat in the sixth by throwing out a would be base stealer. Brianna Kuykendall made a diving stop in left and Rachel Kirkham reeled in two flyballs in center.
The game went into the seventh knotted at 5-5, but the pressure was mounting on the number one seed. Kuykendall led off the inning by hitting one that the third baseman could not corral. With one out Plotner grounded to the shortstop who tried to get the speedy Kuykendall at second but the throw got by and both runners moved up a base. Cornelius wasted no time breaking the tie by smacking a liner to right that allowed Kuykendall to cross the dish. She went second on the throw. The inning really got crazy with Zimmerman at the plate the pitcher threw a wild pitch and Plotner charged home; she was safe in a close play on a quick tag by the pitcher. Cornelius quickly took third and aggressively round the base baiting a throw which skipped into left field allowing her to score the eighth run of the game.
This was the first ever win for DCS in a tournament game in softball, and the first time a DCS team has defeated a number one seeded team. They will now move on to play Grove City Christian on Wednesday (May 21) in the District Semifinal at Pickerington Central at 5 p.m.
DCS is now 13-10 on the year, Millersport ends their year at 16-10.
Leading Hitters: Year to date
Zimmerman: .563 with 3 Home Runs, 18 RBI’s, 20 runs, and 14 Stolen Bases,
Cornelius: .381 14 RBI’s and 8 Stolen Bases
Heidorn: .361 12 RBI’s, 19 runs 7 Stolen Bases
Plotner: .302 15 runs, 12 RBI’s
Sullivan: .295 10 RBI’s and 7 Stolen Bases
K Morgan: 12 Stolen Bases
Kirkham: 10 Stolen Bases
M Morgan: 1 Home Run, 7 runs, 7 RBI’s
Pitching: Heidorn has 10 wins. 3.26 ERA 151 Strikeouts