Despite regional setback, Colts secure spot as one of the top 16 teams in the state

ATHENS − Take a bow Meadowbrook Colts softball ... you earned it for another successful season.

Wednesday's Division III regional semifinal rematch with Wheelersburg did not go the way the Colts were hoping for, as they suffered a disappointing 12-2 five-inning setback to the two-time defending state champions.

The simple fact is for the second consecutive season, the Colts captured a Division III East District championship and a berth in the D-III regionals to finish as a top 16 team in the state again.

That's an achievement the Colts and the entire Meadowbrook community can be proud of and should celebrate.

"We came down here and played with pride, and we stayed in the game with them," Meadowbrook head coach Sean Frizzell. "We reached a goal to get back here again, which is a huge accomplishment. This time we didn't get shut out and walk off the field with our heads down like last year."

"We played the two time defending state champs pretty tough," Frizzell added. "I think we are one of the few teams to put up runs on them in the tournament. That's just a very good team, there is a reason they are two time champions. They are the real deal, and you have to tip your cap to them."

Best could be yet to come for young Colts

Meadowbrook has racked up back-to-back Division III sectional and district titles, along with regional berths, with a core group that still has two years of softball remaining.

Juniors Alexx Combs and Addy Wiggins should return for their senior seasons, while sophomores Sommer Ginn, Jordyn Vargeson and Addy Sichina have two more seasons on the diamond for the Colts.

Add to that core group, sophomore transfer student-athlete Mckendell Boyer and freshman Natalee Norman, who made huge contributions this season and should be back in the fold.

There's even more young talent returning next year with junior Bethany Dickey, sophomores Asie Poland, Addy Randles, Jaycee Eubanks and Hailey Arnold and freshman Chloe Callahan ready to contribute.

"We lose three starting seniors this year, so we have holes to fill," Frizzell added. "But we have a lot of talent coming back, including our top two pitchers in Addy (Sichina) and Mckendell (Boyer). We could very well run the table for the next two years again with talent we still have coming back.

Seniors Taylor Sichina, Hailey Fordyce, and Mackenzie Krenisky closed out their solid Meadowbrook softball careers with the regional loss.

"We also have some more good young players coming up as well. The future of Meadowbrook softball is still very bright," Frizzell said. "Our plan is to take the Colts to the regionals and battle for a state championship a every year thing. We are hoping to build a strong program like Wheelersburg has, and I feel we are well on our way with that."

Defensive struggles put end to Colts season

In order to upset the two-time champion Pirates, Frizzell and the Colts knew they would need to bring their 'A' game to the Ohio University diamond.

Unfortunately for Meadowbrook and their faithful fan base in attendance, the usually solid Colts' defensive effort was MIA with a total of five errors in the contest.

"Five errors was the difference in the game. You can't make five errors against a team like Wheelersburg and expect to have a chance," Frizzell said. "They can just crush the ball, and they hit it hard everywhere. We did match them with eight hits each. We just didn't make enough plays today."

Trailing 1-0 entering the bottom of the second frame, the first defensive lapse by the Colts jumpstarted a huge Wheelersburg inning off Meadowbrook sophomore starter Mckendell Boyer.

Catlin Carter led off with a single, followed by an error, a hit batter and a walk that forced in a run to push the Pirates lead to 2-0.

Wheelersburg lead off hitter Ava Estep then made the miscues hurt badly, launching a long grand slam over the right field fence, clearing the bases and extending the lead to 6-0. Estep finished 2-for-3 with five RBIs to pace the Pirates' offense.

"Their lead off hitter had a day," Frizzell said. "I think we did finally get her out that last time, but she had that big home run in the second. We gave them an opening with the error and walks, and she made us pay with one swing."

More: Walk-off winners: Meadowbrook softball claims second straight district championship

More: Meadowbrook's 'Revenge Tour' continues with unfinished business vs. Wheelersburg

Meadowbrook shows fight with 4th inning rally

Trailing by an 11-0 margin entering the top of the fourth, Meadowbrook made an attempt to get back into the game with a spirited offensive effort.

Seniors Taylor Sichina and Hailey Fordyce and junior Addy Wiggins singled to load the bases with no outs against Wheelersburg starter Caitlyn Carter.

Carter then collected a strikeout for the first out, but Boyer delivered a solid single into left center, plating Fordyce and Sichina to pull the Colts within 11-2.

Wheelersburg (22-2) tacked on the winning run with a fifth-inning RBI base hit from Laken Wright for the 12-2 victory and a spot in Friday's Division III regional championship game against South Webster at 5 p.m. back at Ohio University.

Wiggins singled twice to lead the Colts' eight hit attack, with Boyer adding her base hit that plated a pair of runs. Norman, Combs, Addy Sichina, Taylor Sichina and Vargeson each added base hits.

Meadowbrook finished the season with a final record of 21-11.

KSutton1@gannett.com; X: @KSuttonDJSports; Instagram: kevinsutton_dailyjeffsports

This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Miscues cost Meadowbrook a chance to avenge Wheelersburg loss