Seniors take Utica softball back to district final, lead inspiring rally

PICKERINGTON — The tears simply added to the red cheeks already drenched from sweat and sticky from dives into second base and home plate.

Lexi Wiegand was the engine of the Utica softball team from her first to her last game. The Utica seniors were on a mission to bring the program back to Saturday, and it did not always look like it would happen so quickly.

"Us seniors have grown up playing softball together, and that brings a connection," Wiegand said. "With the upperclassmen stepping up, I feel like we made a sisterhood this year, and it's not going to be replaced."

Wiegand reached base all four times she batted out of the leadoff spot, keying a riveting comeback. This fairy tale, however, did not have a happy ending in a battle of Cinderella stories.

A two-run home run for Kassandra Simmons capped West Jefferson's five-run bottom of the sixth inning and boosted the No. 10 Roughriders (12-11) to a 10-8 victory over No. 11 Utica (12-12) in a Division III district final at Pickerington Central, advancing to play Coldwater at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Findlay. Utica was playing in its first district final since the program fell in back-to-back trips in 2018 and '19.

"We play for the person beside us and our teammates," Utica senior Hannah Shaver said. "Our team morale is just crazy. We play for each other, and that really helped us."

West Jefferson led 5-1 entering the fifth inning with help from the bat and right arm of standout freshman Jenna Mannon. She hit a solo home run in the first inning and a two-run double in the third.

Utica struck out eight times against Mannon, who racked up 14 strikeouts in an 8-6 semifinal victory against Northmor, but also collected six hits. The big blows were back to back with two outs in the fifth inning when sophomore Emily Meyers doubled home a run in front of classmate Kaitlin Evans' game-tying three-run home run.

"I am super proud of every single one of them," Utica coach Staci Meyers said. "They never stopped. The fight has been there. You can't ask for more than that as a coach."

Utica took an 8-5 lead in the top of the sixth inning with the help of two batters reaching on dropped third strikes and aggressive base running. West Jefferson, however, had the final say when a two-run home run for Zoey Brown and a sacrifice fly for Lexi Swaney drove in runs in the bottom of the inning before Simmons' eventual game-winner.

Utica also graduates first baseman Karleigh Lees, catcher Lauren Schmitt, second baseman Carlie Hill, who got the final two outs in the circle in relief of freshman Kiersten Hull, and utility player Emma Lucas.

"After struggling the past three years, us seniors really stepped up," Wiegand said. "We really wanted this this year. We knew there was nothing to lose, so we just played our hardest. We have some so much potential, and we finally brought it out these last couple games."

Utica swept Johnstown in Licking County League-Cardinal Division play and also had notable victories against Lakewood and Heath before victories against Centerburg, Grandview Heights and old nemesis Cardington in the postseason.

Cardington ended Utica's season in the two most recent trips to the district finals. The cancellation of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic was devastating for a decorated senior class, but this season's seniors set the table for the program to take the next step.

"It means so much to know that we've come so far and built such a program that we can compete with those high-level teams," Shaver said.

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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Seniors take Utica softball back to district final, lead inspiring rally