By Drew Terhall

Dailyadvocate.com

DAYTON — Following up a 1-0 Granville win over Indian Lake, Greenville lost to Kenton Ridge 1-0 in the OHSAA Division II Softball Southwest Regional Semifinals at Wright State on May 22.

Head coach Jerrod Newland said it was a disappointing offensive performance from his team. Greenville had their chances to take a lead or at least tie the game, but the bats couldn’t come through when they needed them the most.

“Totally embarrassed for our effort out here offensively today. I’m sorry to the fans for leaving one on the table. Just disappointing. When you give up one run in a regional tournament, you should win games,” Newland said.

Both teams got runners in scoring position in the first inning, but left them stranded. Kenton Ridge came back in the second inning with a lead off single. The runner made her way to third base. But with two outs, the Lady Cougars couldn’t drive her in.

Newland said they had their chances the first time through the order. The team couldn’t find open space or they struck out to end the inning. Newland said they saw strike three three to four times this game.

Kenton Ridge scored the lone run of the game in the top of the fourth inning. With two outs, sophomore Kendall Massie walked. She then stole second second base. Junior Kyleigh Schnitzler follows Massie up with a single to score her

After the first time through the order, Greenville started to get more contact consistently. Newland said they did hit the ball hard later in the game, but Kenton Ridge was able to make the plays to keep their lead.

In the fifth inning, senior Haleigh McDermitt hit a single and sophomore Lily Brubaker moved her to second on a sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Kenton Ridge got the final out to end any momentum Greenville was building.

In the sixth inning with two outs, senior Mahayla Cook hit a triple. Kenton Ridge gets out of the inning again leaving the Lady Wave scoreless.

Newland said he felt they were better prepared and played better, but the team just didn’t execute in those crucial situations.

“We played better than them. The better coached team won because we didn’t execute very well. Three or four kids just out of their elements today,” Newland said. “Played our B game, should have won. I apologize because we were good enough to win. We left one on the field today, you can circle that one. That’s just rough.”

Kenton Ridge threatened to put up more runs on the board as they had bases loaded in the top of the seventh inning with two outs. On a line drive hit, junior Kylar Arnett leaped to snag it out of the air to get out of the jam.

Even with that little bit of momentum on their side, Greenville went down in order in the bottom of the seventh as the Lady Cougars move on.

Junior Zoey Burns pitched all seven innings and only allowed six hits. Newland said Burns was lights out and the team couldn’t give her the run support needed for the win.

The team averaged 8.5 runs a game coming into this season. Newland said he apologizes to every in the Greenville community for how the season ended.

“Played well enough to win. Pitched well enough to win. Just didn’t do it today. I apologize to LWSB nation. It breaks my heart, totally breaks my heart. Love these kids to death and we left it on the field today,” Newland said. “I apologize to everybody. Bottom line, you got to win these games. It’s on the head coach and the head coach didn’t win the game today.”

Greenville finishes with a 27-5 record and a 17-1 MVL record. They were outright MVL champions and District champions.

They will graduate seniors Savannah Leach, Skylar Bryson, Haleigh McDermitt, Addie Burke, Mahayla Cook and Ella McLear.

Contact Daily Advocate sports editor Drew Terhall at [email protected].