Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

COAL GROVE — Winning the Ohio Valley Conference softball title was at the top of the Rock Hill Redwomen’s list.

Cross off item one.

Rock Hill collected 19 hits en route to a 11-5 league win over the Coal Grove Lady Hornets on Monday to clinch the league title.

Rock Hill is now 20-1 on the season and 10-1 in the OVC.

“The girls set that as one of their goals and just worked hard to get it,” said Redwomen coach Sam Gue. “They did whatever we asked of them. They were a real coachable group.”

Gue pointed to seniors Brooklynn Kingrey and Morgan Riedel for their roles in the season.

“The seniors were great leaders all year long. They showed the younger guys what it takes,” said Gue.

Jill Hairston not only got the win on the mound but went 3-for-5 at the plate with a triple and two runs batted in. As the pitcher, she gave up just four hits, struck out five and walked only one.

Makenzi Harris was 4-5 with a double and two RBI to lead the offense.

Kaci Russell, Jenna Lane, Anna Darby and Alexis Brammer all went 2-4 and Riann Keating 2-5 with two RBI for the Redwomen. Darby had a double.

Rock Hill went up 1-0 in the top of the third when Russell singled, Lane had a sacrifice, Hairston hit a fly ball and Harrah got an RBI single.

Coal Grove took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the inning when Gracie Neice walked and Deanna Bentley and Leah Crum both reached on errors as runs scored.

But Rock Hill got the runs backing the fifth. Lane and Harrah singled, Keating hit a fly ball for an out but the relay throw got away and both runners scored.

The Redwomen scored five runs in the sixth to lead 8-2.

Darby doubled and Taylor Hall had an RBI single. Russell, Lane and Hairston all singled for a run, Keating had a two-run single and Kingrey singled in a run.

The Lady Hornets got a run in the bottom of the inning when Crum reached on an error, McKenzie Moore and Khylee Keaton singled to load the bases and Racheal Webb hit into a fielder’s choice and a throwing error on the play let the run score.

Rock Hill scored three runs in the top of the seventh.

Brammer singled, Russell walked, a passed ball moved the runners and Lane grounded out for a run. Hairston tripled in a run and Harrah had an RBI double.

Coal Grove scored twice in the bottom of the inning on a hit by Mary Stapleton, Bentley’s triple and Crum’s sacrifice fly.

Rock Hill 001 025 3 = 11 19 4

Coal Grove 002 001 2 = 5 4 0

Jill Hairston and Riann Keating. McKenzie Moore and Gracie Riley. W-Hairston (K-5,BB-1), L-Moore (K-1, BB-2). Hitting—RH: Kaci Russell 2-4, Jenna Lane 2-4 rbi, Jill Hairston 3-5 3B rbi-2, Makenzi Harrah 4-5 2B rbi-2, Riann Keating 2-5 rbi-2, Brooklynn Kingrey 1-3 rbi, Anna Darby 2-4 2B, Alexis Brammer 2-4, Taylor Hall 1-4 rbi; CG: Deanna Bentley 1-3 3B rbi, McKenzie Moore 1-4, Khylee Keaton 1-3, Mary Stapleton 1-3.