Sydney Marshall and Alivia Boothe struck again. John Glenn is atop the MVL as a result.
DRESDEN — To say that Wednesday's game between John Glenn and Tri-Valley carried heavy implications wouldn't have been doing it justice.
The Muskies entered their game at Don Barcus Field leading the Muskingum Valley League-Big School Division by one game over streaking Sheridan, fueled largely by their two-game sweep of the Generals.
With no room for error, that made their game against Scotties — desperately needing a win to stay in the race after two straight losses — one that figured to be a white-knuckler.
That's precisely what the Muskies' 9-3 win was — a fight to the finish that needed eight innings to complete.
Alivia Boothe's one-out single with the bases loaded in the top of the eighth proved to be the difference, backing Sydney Marshall's gutsy complete game to maintain their slim lead in the division.
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Big guns fired big shots for John Glenn
Marshall, a Bowling Green signee, fought multiple injuries in a roller coaster 2023 season, particularly a back problem that impacted her pitching.
Her good health has returned in her final campaign. The results have been more Marshallesque, pitching the team to one-run wins in pitcher's duels with Sheridan, a 3-0 win against East District power Dover and a 6-3 win against state-ranked Chillicothe Unioto, to name a few.
At the plate, she remains one of the most feared hitters in the MVL — she drew two intentional walks against Tri-Valley with bases open.
She found herself in the middle of another tight battle on a cold, blustery day against a Scottie squad in desperation mode, taking a 3-2 lead into the sixth before Tri-Valley tied it with Larsyn Holdsworth's two-out single to center field.
Marshall then came up with the bases loaded and no outs in the eighth. She popped out, but cleanup hitter Boothe, her classmate and catcher, fought off two pitches before smacking a lined single to right field to break the ice.
The rest was up to Marshall, who got a strikeout to cap a complete game.
Muskie fans could finally take a breath.
"This is a huge win," Marshall said. "We came together when we needed to. Everyone had each other's back."
Seniors are leading the way
Boothe, Marshall and Wayne, with plenty of pelts on the wall, have been at the forefront of leading a team that is otherwise learning on the fly. They have a strong contingent of underclassmen, such as Kinley Porter, who have been put in key roles out of necessity.
It was Porter who came up with a three-run double in the eighth, which made it 9-3, that put the game on ice. It was another example of an up-and-comer being there when the bell rang.
Those types of clutch plays have fueled the team's success. Boothe and Marshall cited Bella Daniels as among the key underclassman who has helped fill hefty graduation losses.
Their development helped change the landscape of the team's direction.
"They have all stepped up when we needed them," Boothe said. "They have shown a lot of improvement since last year. They understand the game more now. They know we have something to play for. Last year as freshmen they didn't understand fully and it's hard to get them that experience."
Stats that matter
Addison Babcock and Estelle Matheney, the Muskies' top two hitters in the order, combined for seven hits, reached base eight times and scored four times. Babock's double was one of two extra-base hits.
Marshall yielded eight hits, one earned run and struck out six to get the win. Of her 104 pitches, 70 went for strikes.
"It's just knowing I have a defense behind me," Marshall said. "Even if I don't throw all of my pitches for strikes, I know I can trust my defense from the infield to the outfield."
Tri-Valley starter Ashlyn Davis more than held her own, working around nine hits and three walks to allow three earned runs.
She was pulled with one out in the sixth in favor of Murphy, who escaped a bases-loaded jam to keep the team within striking distance. Of the six runs she allowed in 2 2/3 innings, none were earned.
Holdsworth enjoyed one of her best days at the plate, collecting four singles out of the No. 7 hole. Katelyn Paxson doubled and singled out of the No. 9 spot, but Marshall held the top five hitters in the order to a combined one hit.
sblackbu@gannett.com; X: @SamBlackburnTR
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Still standing: Boothe, Marshall fend off Tri-Valley in extras
