FINDLAY — As the Oak Harbor softball team sang a rendition of “Happy Birthday” from the dugout, senior shortstop Reese Adkins deposited the ball over the fence, setting off a celebration that was part birthday party and part coronation.
The home run put Oak Harbor ahead of West Jefferson 8-2 in what was eventually a 12-2, five inning victory in the Division III softball regional final. The Rockets are making their second trip to the final four in the past three seasons.
“I can’t even believe what’s going on. I can’t even breathe. I don’t know what to say,” said Adkins, who had three hits and scored three runs. “It’s a really good experience, especially to go back. I never would have thought [we’d get back]. But this team, we are so gelled together.”
Sixth-ranked Oak Harbor (26-2) started the game with three consecutive singles, and then Ava Geyer forced a walk on an 11-pitch at-bat to load the bases. Another walk put the Rockets up 1-0. Adkins scored the second run on a wild pitch.
The Oak Harbor cheering section, which overflowed into the West Jefferson side, was roaring. But Cinderella West Jefferson responded in the bottom of the first on a no-doubt two-run homer by freshman Jenna Mannon to tie the score at 2.
It would be one of three hits the entire game for West Jefferson, which entered the postseason with an 8-11 record. The No. 10 seed from the Central District 2 unexpectedly weaved its way to the regional final.
In the second inning, Oak Harbor had the bases loaded again when Geyer hit a rope to West Jefferson third baseman Lexi Swaney, who couldn’t get the ball home in time to stop Myley Sandwisch. Karder Haas followed with a RBI single to left field. A throwing error allowed another run to score. By the time West Jefferson got the third out, it was 6-2 Oak Harbor.
“They’re a great ball club,” West Jefferson coach Jim Stevens said. “They came prepared. Look at that first inning. We’ve got an extremely talented freshman pitcher, and they came in to hit the ball. And they executed that game plan flawlessly.”
Oak Harbor pitcher Alyse Sorg struck out seven in five innings. After the first inning, she only allowed one base runner to reach second base. She also scored a run.
The Rockets started practice on Feb. 20, with every day since then focusing on getting past the regional final and back to Firestone Stadium in Akron. They were 22-5 last year, stumbling in the district semifinal against Defiance Tinora while committing six errors. En route to the state semifinals this season, Oak Harbor avenged its loss by beating Tinora in the district final.
“We weren’t going to let that happen a second time to us. That was their No. 1 goal,” Oak Harbor coach Cami Haas said. “We came in Day 1 at practice and said, ‘We’re not going to let that happen again.’ These girls work so hard outside of practice as much as they work inside of practice. That’s really why they do such a great job. They’ve been playing together for so long, it just works out. They play for each other.”
Sandwich had three hits and scored two runs, Haas had three hits and scored one run, Geyer and Porter Gregory each had two hits and scored two runs, and Tatum Baumgartner scored a run.
Oak Harbor plays Liberty Union, the No. 3 seed from Central District 1, at 3 p.m. Thursday.
“It’s so unbelievable,” Adkins said. “My chest is cramping.”
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