CENTERVILLE – The Greenville Lady Wave, the No. 2-ranked Ohio High School Athletic Association Division III softball team, made the long trip to Centerville to take on the state’s No. 3-ranked Division I softball program and returned home with an impressive 8-1 win over the Centerville Lady Elks.
“Great day for Lady Wave Softball,” said Greenville coach Jerrod Newland. “Road trip today to get ready for the second season. Proud of the kids and staff – best a great team.”
Greenville had trouble getting its offense going early, managing only a first-inning walk while Centerville capitalized on an unearned run in the bottom of the opening inning to take a 1-0 lead.
The Lady Wave offense erupted at the top of the second inning.
With two outs, Greenville pushed four runs across the plate as Hallee Fourman delivered an RBI single to left field, followed by a Leah Force single to left. Ella Oswalt later drew a bases-loaded walk before Lizzie Shaffer came through with a clutch two-out, two-run single to give Greenville a 4-1 advantage heading into the bottom of the second.
Greenville continued to apply pressure in the third inning.
Jordyn McMullen opened the inning with a walk before Rielynn Davidson laid down a sacrifice bunt. Kara Blumenstock followed with an RBI double to extend the lead. Consecutive walks to Fourman and Force loaded the bases, and Oswalt was hit by a pitch to force home another run, stretching the Lady Wave lead to 6-1.
The Lady Wave added the final two runs of the game in the top of the fourth inning.
Kendall Cromwell led off with a single, and after an error and a Davidson single to right field, Fourman delivered again with a two-run single to put Greenville comfortably in front 8-1.
“Lots of fun stuff today,” Newland said. “Great crowd and atmosphere.”
Oswalt was dominant in the circle for Greenville, earning the complete-game win while allowing four hits and no earned runs over seven innings. The sophomore struck out eight and walked two.
“Ella was very sharp, and we played defense,” said Newland. “Clutch hits and solid approach at the plate.”
Fourman provided a huge spark offensively from the No. 9 spot in the batting order, driving in three runs while going 2-for-3 at the plate. Shaffer and Fourman each collected two hits for Greenville, while Force showed patience at the plate with two walks.
As a team, the Lady Wave worked six walks and turned a double play defensively in another complete performance against one of Ohio’s top programs.
“Great day, 25-1 and 25 straight,” Newland noted. “Another goal with 25 wins and league championship. Now on to win a district title.”
With the season’s 25th win, Coach Jerrod Newland extended his remarkable streak of 25 or more wins in a season to 22 straight years — an incredible feat considering the regular season consists of only 27 games.
The Lady Wave hosts the Trotwood-Madison Lady Rams in a first-round OHSAA D-III tournament game at Greenville’s Lady Wave Stadium, Thursday, May 14, with a 5 p.m. start time.
BOX SCORE:
123 456 7 R H E
042 200 0 8 9 2 Greenville
100 000 0 1 4 3 Centerville
