WARSAW - The Dover softball team earned a spot in next week's regional semifinals with a 6-1 win over Indian Creek in the Division II district championship Tuesday at River View High School.
The Tornadoes will face East Central Ohio League opponent River View in the regional semifinal at Pickerington Central on May 24.
Dover used its speed to manufacture a couple of runs and then cashed in on a big hit by Emily Davidson in beating the Redskins.
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EARLY HIT — Indian Creek senior Ashley Starr gets a first-inning single during Tuesday’s 6-1 district championship loss to Dover.
-- Fred Younce
The Tornadoes scratched out a run in the bottom of the fourth and had a pair of runners on base when freshman Emily Davidson hit a sinking liner down the right field line. The ball was just out of the reach of right fielder Megan Markja and rolled to the fence and Davidson never slowed down in rounding the bases.
The result was a 5-0 lead and Dover put it on cruise control after that.
Indian Creek scored its lone run in the top of the sixth.
Paige DeMattio had a two-out triple to right and Paige Geanangel followed with an infield single.
"I am extremely proud of our team," said Indian Creek coach Angela Penner. "This group of young ladies has worked very hard to take Indian Creek softball to this place in the playoffs.
"We ran into a really good team today. We have nothing to be ashamed of and no reason to hang our heads.
"The seniors in this program have done a great job being leaders and have shown the younger players how we do things and what we expect. We have the utmost respect for our seniors in how they carry themselves and what they have brought to the program.
"They have set a benchmark for us and we look forward to getting better each year."
The Redskins tried to rally in the seventh, getting a leadoff walk by Alexis Monroe, but a flyout and a 1-6-3 double play ended the game.
Dover got things going right off the bat. Miranda Dessecker led off with a single and went from first to third on a wild pitch before scoring on a groundout by Iris Javersak.
"We try to be aggressive on the bases," said Dover coach Jen Pfeiffer. "We want to take advantage of anything we can and sometimes we get lucky."
In the fourth, Dover got leadoff singles from Torree Corpman and Murphy, but Corpman was forced at third and Murphy was replaced on the bases by Rachel Dummermuth, who scored from second on a single by Danni Murtaugh. Davidson cleared the bases with her two-out hit to make it 5-0.
Dover got another run in the sixth when Murphy led off with a single.
The Tornadoes will prepare for a rematch of a mid-April game against River View. The Black Bears won the first meeting 5-0 at Dover City Park. Now they travel to Pickerington Central for a second meeting.
"This is a fantastic opportunity for us," Pfeiffer said. "Once you get to the regional, every team is really good."
Dover 6, Indian Creek 1
Indian Creek 000 001 0 - 1 6 0
Dover 100 401 x - 6 9 0
INDIAN CREEK: Starr (LP) and Orr; DeMattio T; Starr S; Geananagel 2S.
DOVER: Murphy (WP) and Walker; Murtaugh 2S; Murphy 2S; Davidson HR, 3rbi.
