CHESHIRE - First, it was the Boston Red Sox ending, "The Curse." Now, the Coal Grove Lady Hornets have ended, "The Drought."

And it sure feels good.

Coal Grove began playing softball in 1999 and had some wins, but never in the Ohio Valley Conference. That ended Thursday when the Lady Hornets beat the River Valley Lady Raiders 8-6.

"This was a big game for us. We have been close several times this year, but this one finally got us over the hump," Lady Hornets coach Scott Hamm said.

Coal Grove improved to 6-8 overall and 1-7 in the OVC. The win avenged an earlier 10-8 loss to the Lady Raiders.

Caymie Collier got the win as she went the distance and scattered 12 hits.

"I'm proud of the way our girls played," Hamm said. "Everyone stepped up and they wanted a league win badly. Collier, our freshman pitcher, did exactly what I asked her to do. She threw strikes, didn't walk batters and let the defense play for her."

"We gave a few up in the bottom of the seventh, but I credit that to nerves of trying to close out our first league win," Hamm said.