Crestview bounces back with sectional final win

MIDDLE POINT - Sometimes a loss can turn out to be a positive.

After Crestview suffered its first defeat of the season - a 3-1 regular-season loss to Parkway on Monday - the Knights bounced back in strong fashion Thursday by knocking Ottoville out of the Division IV sectional softball tournament at Lincolnview, 14-0 in five innings.

After being held to just three base hits Monday, the Knights pounded 12 off Ottoville pitcher Samantha Modica.

Crestview (21-1) will return to action at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Lincolnview in the district semifinals. The Knights will take on the winner of today's game between Delphos Jefferson and Continental.

Crestview coach Ali Sawmiller said the loss to Parkway might have been what her team needed.

"I think it brought us back to reality a little bit," Sawmiller said. "The girls always come out to win, but I think the loss made us re-focus a little bit. We definitely worked on a few things at practice the next day."

Crestview pitcher Chelsey Lare (13-1) yielded just two hits, while striking out six and hitting one batter.

After jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, Crestview erupted for four in the third and eight more in the fourth to put the game out of reach.

Ottoville coach Joe Modica said his team came out with the intentions of being competitive against the No. 1 team in the state.

"They did not come out and lay down," Modica said. "I thought we did pretty well early. We made some contact (with the bat). But, they're a very good team."

Lare had to throw just 59 pitches in her five innings of work. She threw 20 pitches in the third, when Ottoville threatened.

Modica got on base in the third with a two-out single to center. Adria Wannemacher followed with a walk. Lare, however, forced Abby Krouskop to fly out to left to end the inning.

"I though (Lare) pitched really well," Sawmiller said. "She did a nice job of locating her pitches and changing speeds."

Crestview recorded four hits in the third. Kelsey Nedderman, who went 2-for-3, had the key hit, a single that drove in two. The Big Green did not help their own cause, however, committing two errors in the inning.

In the fourth, Crestview sent 12 batters to the plate and collected four hits off Modica.

Sawmiller said her team did a nice job of being aggressive at the plate - especially in the fourth inning.

"They were definitely stroking it," Sawmiller said. "They did a nice job of keeping weight on their back foot and driving the ball."

Morgan Hicks, Sami Hartman, Kayla Richardson and Nedderman all had two hits for the Knights.