VANDALIA – The Greenville Lady Wave Softball team defeated the Butler Lady Aviators 6-1 to earn the MVL Conference championship outright.
“Great day for Lady Wave Softball,” said Greenville coach Jerrod Newland. “There’s that trophy and it was nice to go play Butler at their field and get a little redemption, just a fun day for the kids. We’re 22-4, more importantly, 16-1 in the MVL, and just a fun day with a great crowd, great atmosphere, and two good teams going at it. Butler made a lot of plays, but the bottom line, the better team won, and we’re happy to move 16-1.”
The MVL Miami Division teams came into the night each with a single loss in conference play, with the winner being crowned League Champions. The fifth and sixth innings proved to be the ticket for the Lady Wave, coming from a 0-1 deficit after four complete innings of work to earn the win on the Lady Aviators’ home field.
Butler took advantage of a Greenville error to plate the game’s first run and lead 1-0 after three innings that would hold up through four innings of action.
“A couple of innings we left three or four on there after four,” Newland stated.
To open the top of the fifth the Lady Wave continued to stare at one-run deficit with two outs and no runners on base before Haleigh McDermitt took four straight balls for a walk, Kylar Arnett drove a single to left bringing Zoey Bruns to the plate to crush a 3-1 two-run double to right giving Greenville its first lead of the night, a 2-1 advantage.
“That fourth inning, we were 3-1 on a couple of kids, and they hit the ball,” Newland stated. “I knew we were getting to her a little bit and the fifth we get two outs there and get a hit-hit and boom Zoey knocks two in and Greenville goes up 2-1 and that was huge.”
Greenville starter Zoey Burns set the Lady Aviators down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the fifth including strikeouts around a popup to Mahayla Cook at third.
The Lady Wave used the sixth inning to add four insurance runs. Ella McLear got an inning-opening walk, Addie Burke and Lily Brubaker each received walks with one out, and Savannah Leach picked up an RBI with a bases-loaded walk for a 3-1 score.
McDermitt followed with a two-run single to right, and Arnett stroked an RBI single to right, giving the Lady Wave a 6-1 lead.
“The sixth inning is coming through, and we get four,” said Newland. McDermitt busts one through for the third run, Arnett busts one through and scores another one—just great stuff, passing the bat, and proud of the kids.”
Burns mowed the Aviators down in order in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings to record the Lady Wave’s win and send the team home with the MVL Championship trophy in hand on the bus ride home.
“Zo was lights out today and she’s spot on,” Coach Newland said. “Denny (pitching coach) and Kendall Cromwell (catcher) did a great job. I got to sit down with them today and throw my two cents in which probably muddies it up but it was good. She attacked it well, she pitched like a first-team all-state pitcher today like she was last year, and three or four days here in the last couple weeks Zoey has been pretty spot on. Big games, big kids step up and Zoey Burns was excited to play today and obviously to get it.”
The Lady Wave headed home with the MVL Championship trophy in hand on the bus ride up Ohio State Route 49.
“We got the trophy on their field,” said Coach Newland. “When you get the trophy on their field with the 6-1 scoreboard in the background it’s always nice. The trophy rode the bus tonight; seniors take it home, and they’ll drop it off to Mr. Hughes and Mr. Shaffer tomorrow, so good stuff, proud of the kids.”
Greenville junior Zoey Burns tossed a complete game one-hitter allowing no earned runs, and 1 walk while striking out 10 Lady Aviators.
Arnett paced the Lady Wave at the plate, going 3-4 with one RBI and a run. Burns went 2-4, including a double and 2 RBI, and McDermitt was 1-1 with 2 walks and 2 RBI. Lily Brubaker, Addie Burke, Leach, and McLear each had a walk and a run.
BOX SCORE
123 456 7 R H E
000 024 0 6 6 3 Greenville
001 000 0 1 1 0 Butler
