By Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

CHILLICOTHE — The Coal Grove Lady Hornets are going where no Coal Grove softball team has gone before.

No, the Lady Hornets aren’t going into outer space but they are going to the regional softball tournament for the first time in the program’s history.

Abbie Deeds pitched a 2-hitter as the Lady Hornets edged the Wellston Golden Lady Rockets 1-0 in the Division 3 district finals.

Coal Grove (17-7) will face South Webster (17-3) in the regional semifinals at Ohio University at 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

The other regional game is Wheelersburg and Byesville Meadowbrook at 2 p.m. The regional finals are 5 pm. on Friday.

Coal Grove got the only run of the game in the fifth inning.

With one out, Kendall Taylor doubled, went to third on a passed ball and scored on an error.

Wellston (22-2) got a one-out single by Madalynn Childers in the third and a leadoff single in the seventh by Karly Rinehart.

The hit by Rinehart was followed by a walk to Kayla Kight. But Deeds struck out the next 2 batters and got a pop out to second base to end the game.

Deeds got the win as she struck out 10 and walked 4.

Hayes was 2-3, Black 1-2, Taylor 1-3 with a double and Collins 1-4 for the Lady Hornets.

Wellston pitcher Hannah Potts struck out 16 and walked 3.

Coal Grove 000 010 0 = 1 5 1

Wellston  000 000 0 = 0 2 1

Abbie Deeds and Rylee Black. Hannah Potts and Madalynn Childers. W-Deeds (IP-7.0, H-2, R-0, K-10, BB-4, WP-1). L-Potts (IP-7.0 H-5, R-1, ER-0, K-16, BB-3). Hitting-Coal Grove: Shay Collins 1-4, Rylee Black 1-2, Mia Haynes 2-3, Kendall Taylor 1-3 2B; Wellston: Madalynn Childers 1-4, Karly Rinehart 1-2.