Athens' softball completes comeback victory over Vinton County

THE PLAINS — When you get your opportunities, you have to take advantage of them.

Going up against one of the better pitchers in the area in Jordyn Zinn, Athens would struggle against the thrower, facing a deficit against Vinton County before the Vikings decided to take the pitcher out. That one change would help allow the Bulldogs (11-6, 7-4 Tri-Valley Conference-Ohio) to score three runs in the final two innings, securing a 4-2 victory over Vinton County at home in the end.

At the plate, Athens would rack up six hits in the victory. Kayla Hammonds would finish 2-3 at the plate with an RBI while Khyla Brannon reached based twice, drilling a solo home run as well as scoring two runs. Olivia Dowler would finish with a hit and an RBI while Kendra Hammonds and Fern Sigman also tallied a hit for the Bulldogs.

In the circle, Sigman would end up throwing all seven innings and picking up the win after a three-hit performance, allowing no earned runs while striking out 10 and walking none.

For the Vikings, Zinn would collect two of the team’s hits while scoring a run. Bailey Wellman would have the only other hit for the team while Natalie Zinn scored the only other run.

In the circle, Zinn would toss an impressive four innings, allowing four hits and one run, striking out three while walking one. Eliza Smith would then toss the final two innings of relief, allowing two hits and three runs while walking three.

Despite the first two batters of the night being called out, Vinton County would go on a two-out rally in the top of the first that concluded with an error from the Bulldogs’ defense allowing a pair of runs to come home.

The Bulldogs would struggle mightily at the plate until the bottom of the third inning. Maybe starting to build some momentum, Brannon would drill her solo shot over the left field fence to cut the deficit in half.

With Zinn coming out of the game in the fifth, Athens took the opportunity to close the gap even further. Following a walk from Brannon to get on base, Kayla Hammonds would drill a double to left field, scoring the junior with the tying-run.

The Bulldogs would finally break through and grab a lead in the following frame. After getting hit by a pitch to leadoff the frame, Rylee Toadvine would steal second and third base before an error from the Vikings’ catcher allowed the junior to come in and score to take the lead. A few batters later, Dowler would rip a two-out single into center field, scoring Evie Garland to make it a 4-2 game.

A runner would get on base for Vinton County in the seventh but Sigman would settle down quickly, getting the final three outs as Athens completed the comeback victory.