Seniors extend Watkins Memorial's softball dominance in rematch with Granville

GRANVILLE — Carsyn Cassady did not need anyone to pick her up and dust her off.

Watkins Memorial’s star right-hander took a line drive off her left leg during Monday’s fifth inning, but she helped the Warriors do what they have done in every Licking County League game this decade. Cassady later struck out the final two batters to secure the Warriors’ 4-3 victory at Granville, their 59th consecutive in LCL play.

Watkins, still ranked No. 1 in Division I in the latest Ohio High School FastPitch Softball Coaches Association poll, clinched at least a share of its fourth consecutive LCL-Buckeye Division title. The Warriors (21-0, 12-0) have not lost an LCL game since falling 6-4 to Lakewood on April 17, 2019.

“Playing with her for so long, I know probably almost everything about (Cassady),” Watkins senior catcher Jordyn Wycuff said. “I probably know her better than anyone. The way we communicate and react to each other, I know how to calm her down. When we went to that last inning, there was no doubt in my mind we had the greatest in the circle. I knew she would get it done for us. … She’s so tough. Honestly, when she gets mad, she throws a little bit harder.”

Cassady struck out 17, just as she did in a 2-0 victory in the teams’ previous meeting on April 18, but Granville (20-3, 10-2), ranked No. 2 in Division II, did some damage this time, scoring single runs in three separate innings.

Wycuff, however, helped keep Watkins on top. She homered in the top of the first, sparking a three-run inning, and doubled and scored in the second before Granville senior right-hander Ally Ernsberger settled in.

“Our goal from the beginning today was to set the tone immediately,” Wycuff said. “Last time we were a little bit thrown off, and she was the best pitcher we had seen in a couple weeks. That test really challenged us a little bit.”

Solo home runs from juniors Sophia Patena in the third inning and Megan Lodge in the fifth began Granville on its comeback trail. Following Lodge’s homer, Patena’s line drive hit Cassady just above her left knee and caromed toward third base, sending Cassady to the ground for a short period of time.

Cassady escaped the fifth. Granville senior Alyssa Guglielmi singled home classmate Taylor Warehime after an error to start the inning in the sixth before Cassady pitched around a one-out walk to Patena in the seventh.

“They were already talking about how happy they were with the performance,” Granville coach Brooke Warehime said. “We got down early, and last year we would have folded with something like that. They know they can play with anyone. It’s disappointing. Some bad timing on a few things, and it goes a different way. They are a great team, and we stayed right with them again.”

Senior Cortney Dobbs’ single was sandwiched inside three walks and an error as Watkins took its 3-0 lead in the first inning. Wycuff then scored from second on a cue-shot groundout to the right side in the second inning.

The Warriors were blanked from there as Lodge leaped near the center-field fence to rob Watkins junior Kylie Trouten of extra bases in the sixth inning, and Dobbs was erased in a double play after singling with one out in the seventh. Watkins still secured its second one-run victory in the past week and just its fourth during the streak.

“It’s huge,” Dobbs said. "A lot of us come out here and play for each other rather than ourselves. A lot of the selfishness, it’s great that we don’t have any of it. We play as a team, and we have each other’s backs as always. … I just kept away from (Cassady). She is one that is going to get back up on her own.”

Ernsberger struck out seven in a five-hitter and walked only two more after laboring in the first inning.

“(Ernsberger) has grown physically and mentally without a doubt,” Brooke Warehime said. “She hangs in, and when it gets tough, she knows she has a defense and an offense that will back her.”

Granville, the top seed in Division II in the Central District, hosts Newark Catholic on Wednesday. The Blue Aces visit Zanesville to wrap up LCL play on Friday before hosting Indian Valley for a doubleheader on Saturday.

Watkins, the top seed in Division I in the Central District, faced Gahanna on Tuesday and Heath on Wednesday before Lakewood visits Thursday to finish a suspended game with the Warriors leading 1-0 in the bottom of the second inning. Coach Mike Jellison, always looking for a small advantage, had a fuller dugout on Monday.

“We brought a few extra kids today because the loudest dugout wins,” Jellison said. “The tournament we will take 19 or 20 kids, so this is an audition. Who can stay focused for seven innings and do their job? That’s fun to see and good for us to be in a tight game.”

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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Seniors extend Watkins Memorial's softball dominance in rematch with Granville