Jonathan Alder hits Lakewood with final blow in OHSAA district softball bout

PICKERINGTON — The Lakewood softball team did not have the impressive ranking entering Saturday’s game, but the Lancers did not mind the rare opportunity to be the underdog.

It is no surprise Lakewood had Jonathan Alder, ranked No. 2 in the final state coaches poll, on the ropes. Ultimately, Kiersten Dolby’s two-run single in the seventh inning allowed the top-seeded Pioneers (23-1) to sneak away with 4-3 victory against No. 6 Lakewood (15-11) in a Division II district final at Pickerington Central.

"Tradition never graduates. That's what we have over our dugout," senior catcher Olivia Alward said. "We do everything at 110% all of the time because of this game."

Alward followed junior Audrey Thomas’ one-out single with a line drive home run over the left-field fence, giving the Lancers a 2-0 lead three batters into the afternoon.

Alder scored single runs in the second and fourth innings to tie the game. Thomas, however, singled and later scored on an error, giving Lakewood a 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth inning, and it appeared as if the Lancers might get the better of the Pioneers for the second consecutive season.

"I'm not disappointed at all with my girls. They fought hard all the way through," Lakewood coach Jon Griffith said. "Jonathan Alder is an exceptional program just like we are, and a lot of credit goes to them. Today, the softball Gods were with them; that's for sure."

Maybe it was divine intervention for Alder. With one out and a runner at second, what appeared to be a routine grounder to the right side took a bad hop at the last instant, resulting in an error.

Griffith replaced a tiring sophomore Becca Streets with freshman Carly Williams, hoping a fresh arm might bring a strikeout or a popup. Instead, the left-handed hitting Dolby bounced one past Williams and well to the right of a diving Thomas near second.

"Right off the bat, the first inning was good, but to be honest, I don't know that we were able to get too much going the rest of the game," Griffith said. "We were able to scratch out a run in the sixth, which was nice to go up, but (Alder) kept plugging away. They have some good batters, and they found a way to make it happen there at the end."

Streets struck out two, and she allowed just two earned runs. Senior first baseman Ashley Poling and sophomore right fielder Rachel Crist each backed her up with a diving catch.

Alward gave the Lancers juice from the start. The Lancers also are graduating center fielder Emma McLean, left fielder Autumn Blankenship and Poling from the middle of their order.

"I have been pretty aggressive at the plate this year, so I just went in looking for a strike and hit it," Alward said.

Alder ace Marlee Jacobs, however, settled in, striking out just three but allowing just five hits without a walk. She is hoping to bookend her standout career with a second state championship.

ksnyder@newarkadvocate.com

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