GNADENHUTTEN The Indian Valley softball team didn’t play their best Thursday, but in the end the scoreboard showed the Braves as being victorious.
Indian Valley scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to mercy Minerva 11-1 and gain a Division II sectional tournament title at home.
The Braves, who move to 20-2 on the season and winners of 13 straight, advance to a district semifinal. Revenge will be on the minds of all the Indian Valley players and coaches as it plays No. 1 seed River View on Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Garaway High School.
One of the two losses for the Braves this year came from the Black Bears, who won 8-1 in the fourth game of the season.
“These girls know what the prize is,” said Indian Valley first-year coach Dusty Braun about his team’s focus on what’s at stake. “River View got us early. But we picked this game. We chose this side of the bracket for a reason.”
After Indian Valley held the Lions to no runs in the top of the first, it was the Braves turn to bat and set the tone early.
After a lead-off walk to Reagan Wires and a fly out to center by Payton Guspyt, Maddie Dryden hit a routine flyball to left field but it was dropped to give the Braves an extra out. Catcher Katie Deardorff made the Lions pay, sending the ball over the left field fence, hitting the top of a utility building and giving her team an early 3-0 lead. That was all the Braves would need.
“I’m proud of these girls. They’re on uncharted waters -- 20th win of the season, 13th straight win. It’s been fun,” said Braun.
Braves standout pitcher Kayla Tschudy got another start and another win, moving to 14-1 on the season, giving up just the one run and six hits. Tschudy and the Braves’ defense sent the Lions down in order in the fourth and fifth innings. In the fourth, right fielder Gabby Miles, centerfielder Morgan Spillman and second baseman Wires all made spectacular plays. Spillman made an over-the-shoulder catch right in front of the fence, generating a loud roar from the home fans.
The Indian Valley offense did sputter at moments, but the Braves were still able to plate three more runs in the fourth.
The key hit in the sixth came off the bat of Maddie Dryden, who clubbed her single-season school record ninth home run. The previous record of eight homers was by Brennan Rennard in 2016.
Even though Braun is in his first year, he's a savvy veteran. Winning 20 games in your first season isn’t a fluke. The Braves haven’t lost since April 20, when they fell to Jackson 6-5. Out of the 13 straight wins, eight have come by way of mercy -- winning by 10 runs or more. But as Indian Valley prepares for a deep run in the tournament, it won’t be that easy.
“I tell everyone that it’s not the coaching. All I did was press a couple buttons here and there. These girls have been successful at a young age, and all I did was corral them and point them in the right direction and get them to the next level,” said Braun.
Reach Curtis at 330-364-8434
cduffield@timesreporter.com
Twitter: @TRCDuff