Unbeaten Licking Valley softball showcases young talent in road win
HEATH ― Licking Valley's softball opponents are finding out early on that the Panthers' first-year varsity players are freshmen in name only.
"We're very young, but our young players have a lot of softball experience," Coach Chad Dennis said Thursday after they opened Licking County League play with a 4-0 crossover win at Heath. "They just have to adjust to the varsity game."
Valley's four freshman starters are proving to be quick learners. The Panthers (3-0, 1-0) overpowered Maysville and Philo by a combined 26-6, led by speedster D'Neya Dennis at the top of the order and Tori Baughman in the middle of it. Dennis had two hits and stole two bases Thursday, while Baughman, already hitting a torrid .853 coming in, went 3 for 4 with an RBI.
"We've played against really high talent (coming up), so we're ready for anything," said Baughman, who played first base Thursday but is also an excellent pitcher. "We're always ready to hit and today, we executed pretty well."
One of Valley's seasoned veterans, junior lefty Rylee Pitt, earned the spotlight at Heath as she pitched a two-hitter, struck out three and walked only two. That came against a Heath lineup filled with players from the Bulldogs' recent powerhouse teams that included a 2022 Division II state semifinalist, including Kyndall Spicer, Sydney Cottrell and Shelby Moore.
"They're a good team, and being in my third year and knowing a lot of their players helped a lot," Pitt said. "And the coaches knowing what pitches to call."
Pitt was backed by a defense that commited just one error and flagged down several hard hit balls by the Bulldogs (2-1, 0-1). Baughman snagged a pair of line drives at first, right fielder Hailey Small grabbed another one and shortstop Dennis ended the game by extending to nab Karli Staley's shot up the middle.
"We played really well defensively today, but we've been playing that way," coach Dennis said.
Added Pitt: "It's one of the best defensive games we've played in a while. It's about trust with this team, and we're working together really well."
The Panthers wasted little time getting Pitt all the runs she would need.
Dennis led off with an infield hit and Liz Korns bunted her to second. With one out, Baughman lashed a double over the center fielder's head, and Zoey Shaw singled her in for a 2-0 lead.
In a duel of southpaws, Heath's Moore settled down and stranded nine runners before Valley added insurance in the seventh. Taylor Penick walked and Baughman singled her to third, then stole second. A throwing error on an attempted squeeze bunt allowed one run to score, then Shaw stroked an RBI single to left for the final 4-0 margin.
Pitt threw 58 of her 85 pitches for strikes, allowing only a second-inning single to Staley and Spicer's third-inning infield hit.
"Rylee isn't overpowering, but she executed all of her pitches well. It's like watching a video game out there," coach Dennis said.
Observed Baughman: "She spotted the ball and threw a lot of strikes."
Moore allowed nine hits, fanned five and and walked five for Heath. First-year coach Brian Purdy, a Heath grad and longtime summer ball coach, sees only good things ahead as he takes over for Ray Cooksey.
"We're getting there," Purdy said. "I thought Shelby pitched well, but we had too many errors (three) and did not play a clean game."
He was quick to give Valley credit.
"Good teams make good plays, and they're a good team," he said. "I still think we have a great team. Ray developed a good program the last 10 years, and we have good seniors, a good junior group and good younger players. And this is the first year we have a seventh and eighth grade team."
The Panthers only figure to get better. Senior Abbe McNabb, their ace for four seasons, is returning from a school trip to Europe.
"We actually have three good pitchers, because Baughman is good too," coach Dennis said. "She's very talented and has a lot of potential, but you can say that about a lot of our kids."
Baughman didn't mince words.
"I think we're going to be really good," she said.
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Unbeaten Licking Valley softball showcases young talent in road win
