Softball: Big fifth inning lifts Hilliard Bradley over Gahanna
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
By Michael Rich
mrich@cbussports.com
Hilliard Bradley’s Cora Moine (4) takes off for second after a walk to help get a run home from third during the Jaguars’ game at Gahanna March 27. Photo: Kevin Rouch
When Cora Moine took a one-out walk with Sophia Lopez on third base in the fifth inning of a non-league softball game, she looked at first base coach Heather Moody and saw the sign to keep going. Her job was simple: get in a rundown.
The Hilliard Bradley junior executed it to perfection, drawing the attention of Gahanna’s defense long enough for Lopez to score to tie the game.
The play sparked a five-run inning leading the Jaguars to an 11-5 win at Blacklick Athletic Complex on March 27.
“I’m getting into a pickle,” said Moine, a shortstop, who had a hit, an RBI and a run in the game to go with her walk and stolen base. “I’m not trying to be safe anywhere. It’d be great to be safe, but I’m just trying to score that run. I’m just trying to distract them long enough for Sophia to score.”
That Moine ended up on second was a bonus.
“If they don’t make a play on you, then O.K., we get a free base,” Bradley coach Kevin Moody said. “Defensively, that’s a tough one to stop. What you hope for is that you force (the runner) back to first and keep (the other runner) at third and you haven’t lost anything. It’s up to the base runner at third (to know) when you go. I thought our kids ran it perfectly this time.”
Hilliard Bradley’s Sophia Lopez started the Jaguars’ fifth-inning rally in their 11-5 win at Gahanna March 27. She added a solo home run in the sixth. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Gahanna is known for creating chaos on the basepaths with 206 stolen bases last season and 210 the year before. But the Jaguars (2-0) beat the Lions at their own game.
“We jumped on them quickly and were ahead in the fifth inning and they kind of turned the tables on us with how we like to run bases,” Lions coach Matt Bailey said. “It’s the same thing that we do. But we’re always like, ‘Get the out.’ Outs are hard to get in this game. So, when a team gives you an out, you’ve got to take the out. At that time, if we take the out, then it’s a tie game with two outs.”
Jillian Meszaros relieved freshman Mickey Moody in the circle and tossed three shutout innings for the Jaguars. Meszaros allowed one hit and struck out two.
Lopez, also a freshman, reached base on a three-base error with one out to start the fifth-inning rally. She added a solo home run in the sixth inning and finished with two hits and two runs.
Hilliard Bradley’s Mickey Moody started the Jaguars’ game at Gahanna March 27. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Andrea Day had three hits and a walk with three runs, an RBI and a stolen base, Loghan Cromer added two hits, including a double, with three RBIs and Taylor Hopkins had three hits, including a triple, walked, drove in two and scored once to lead Bradley.
“I think that (play) along with some timely hits from the bottom half of the order really got us going,” Kevin Moody said. “It’s nice to start with a couple of runs in the first, but to sustain that was the key. I thought the bottom half of our lineup did a nice job of doing that.
“Gahanna is one of the best teams in the area consistently. So, it’s a good start for us. As we get into the league next week, we’ve got to make sure we take care of a couple of mistakes we made here. (Lopez) hit her first home run – on an 0-2 count as well. I thought a lot of kids came through in clutch situations.”
Freshman Adrionna Dunton hit a two-run home run in the first inning and drove in three overall to lead the Lions (1-1).
Gahanna’s Adrionna Dunton reaches home plate after homering for the Lions during their home game with Hilliard Bradley March 27. Photo: Kevin Rouch