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STEUBENVILLE -- Two softball heavyweights battled out in a doubleheader on a cold Saturday at the Crimson Complex.
Big Red plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 2-1 lead in Game 1, however, the Red-and-Black were unable to hold onto the lead as state-ranked Dover recorded three runs in the seventh to rally for a 4-2 victory.
Big Red bounced back in the second game as they flew past the Crimson Tornadoes, 7-3, to earn a split on the day.
With the split, Big Red is now 17-4 on the season, while Dover stands at 16-3.
Dover is ranked second in the state in the latest Ohio High School Softball Coaches Poll. The poll was released Monday. The Crimson Tornadoes received a pair of first-place votes in the poll.
The first game was scoreless through four before the visitors pushed across a run in the fifth to take a 1-0 lead. Big Red responded with two runs in the sixth – on a groundout and a passed ball – to take the lead at 2-1.
Big Red was three outs from victory, however, Dover rebounded in a big way as the visitoes from Tuscarawas County plated three runs – one on an RBI triple, one an RBI single and the third on a sacrifice fly to take the lead.
Big Red had a chance in the seventh, however, the hosts were retired in order – on two strikeouts and a groundout – ending the game.
"We had a gameplan coming in, and we implemented that plan," Big Red head coach Gus DiMarzio said after the first game. "We executed that plan the best we could. We did what we wanted to do, but we were just not able to win the game. We didn't get the win.
"Their pitcher is good. We battled. We made her do things she hasn't done in a couple of weeks. We took the lead, but we just could not hold it.
"Good teams find a way to win. We just could not find a way to win."
Trailing by a run in the sixth, Big Red found a way to scratch out a pair or runs to take the lead to put themselves on the verge of a big win.
Sophia Zorne singled with one out, and she stole second to move into scoring position. Addi Meyer followed with a walk and Sena Smith reached on an error to load the bases. Sadie Edwards followed with a groundout to short plating Zorne to tie the score at 1. Then with Sagan Smarella at the plate, Meyer scored on a close play at the plate following a passed ball, however, Smith ended up being tagged out in a rundown on the play ending the game with Big Red ahead 2-1.
Down to its last chance, Dover came through in a big way in the seventh.
Madi Bantum led off the inning with a double, and the catcher advanced to third on a groundout. Then, Alli Hupp tripled to right plating the tying run to even the score at 2-2. Olivia McCue followed with a base hit scoring Hupp to regain the lead for the Crimson Tornadoes at 3-2. Then following a walk, Avery Contini plated Dover's fourth run on a sacrifice fly to center to make it a 4-2 ballgame.
Big Red had a big win against Weir Thursday out at Edison, and playing quality competition will help the team down later on during postseason play.
"Survive and advance," DiMarzio said. "Playing games like this will help us. We have two weeks left in the season. In 2023 we went out to John Glenn and we played Heath and John Glenn, and we walked away with a split. We won one, and we lost one. We came out of that knowing we could go deep if we only changed a few things. We can make a run this year, but we definitely have some things we have to fix."
Big Red did end up going deep into the postseason as the girls from Jefferson County advanced all the way to the state semifinals before falling to Canfield by a score of 2-1.
Jenna Molk picked up the win inside the circle for Dover. She struck out 10 and walked three.
Edwards was saddled with the loss. Edwards struck out one and walked four.
Hupp produced a single earlier in the game to go along with her triple, McCue collected three singles in the win and Charlie Reese and Madeline Focker each finished with a base hit.
Zorne's single in the sixth was Big Red's only hit of the ballgame.
Big Red chose to play the doubleheader despite the less than ideal weather conditions outside.
"You scheduled games, and you play the games on your schedule," DiMarzio said. "You have teams not playing to hold their spot for a tournament. It's a cold day. It's raining out, but we are here playing. You scheduled games, and you play the games you are scheduled,
"We are going to bounce back. We are going to come back. We are going to come back and win this next game."
Big Red made their coach's prediction come to fruition.
Isabella Cadile picked up the win in Game 2 for the hosts. The freshman struck out two and walked four in seven innings.
Caydence Greene took the loss for the visitors. She struck out one and walked two.
"Jenna Molk was throwing 65, so there was a speed variation," DiMarzio said. "The second girl was throwing 50, maybe 52. I thought it would take one or two times through for us, but I did not expect it to take three times to get the timing down. We had to put the ball in play. We finally realized we had to put the ball in play because the ball was not going to carry with that wind.
"We changed our approach. We changed our swings. In the first game, we tried to pull the ball and not pop it up. Some people may question all the bunting, but we wanted to put the ball in play. We wanted to put the ball on the ground. When you put the ball on the ground, you give yourself a chance. That is why we did that in the first game.
"In the second game, we changed our swings. We wanted to put the ball in play. We wanted to put the ball on the ground. We didn't want to put it in the air. If we cut the ball in half and hit a line drive, that was even better. We had some hit-and-run scenarios. We did some things we don't normally do, but it paid off for us. One time it didn't, their girl made a nice play on the ball, and we got doubled up.
"At the end, it's survive and advance. That is the kind of mode we are in right now."
Offensively, Big Red outhit Dover, 10-6. The victors recorded four extra-base hits – three doubles and a triple – in the win, while the Dover delivered two – a double and a triple.
For Big Red, Sophia Zorne ended up with a double and two RBI, Paige Matteson produced a double and an RBI and Smarrella tallied two singles and an RBI. Also, Emily Tuttle collected a single and two RBI, Sena Smith smacked a triple and Edwards added a double. Finally, Gena Smith contributed a single and an RBI, while Riley Zorne recorded a single.
Madi Bantum delivered a single, a double and an RBI for the Crimson Tornadoes, Sophie Bantum belted a triple and McCue contributed two singles and an RBI. Also, Hupp produced a single and an RBI.
Dover struck first with a run in the top of the second to take a 1-0 lead. Big Red countered with three in the fourth to take a 3-1 lead. Dover answered with a run in the fifth to cut its deficit down to 3-2, however, the home team responded with four more runs in the sixth to increase their advantage to 7-2. The Game 1 winners plated a run in the seventh, but it wasn't enough as Big Red recorded the victory to earn a split.
Big Red was rallied to win multiple games this season after falling behind, in Game 2 was another example of that.
"We would like to be ahead from the get-go and stay ahead and not have it come down to the last pitch," DiMarzio said. "We want to get a big lead and keep it, but we will take the win. We keep stressing to the girls all we have to do is score one more run than the other team. We were able to do that, so I am OK with it. It would be nice to get ahead by 10 runs and stay ahead.
"We played really well in the first game, but in our last at-bats, I think we were a little deflated. We were up 2-1, and we gave up the lead.
"They just hit three balls where we weren't. We were standing here, and they put the ball where we weren't. There is nothing you can do about that.
"I was just disappointed that we did not fight in our last at-bat. I thought we would take more pitches and foul pitches off, but we didn't do that. I was a little disappointed with how that game ended.
"I told the girls in the huddle that we did not finish that game, and they agreed with me. I told them that we had to win the second game, that we needed to win it, and I walked away from the huddle. They backed up what I said. That was all them. I had nothing to do with it. I was happy for them."
The games were the final ones for both teams prior to the start of the annual OVAC Tournament. Saturday was the cutoff day for teams to qualify.
The top four teams in each class qualify for the conference tournament, and Big Red was in first place in the Class 5A standings when the latest standings were released Wednesday morning. Big Red was followed in the standings by University, Parkersburg South and Morgantown. The Crimson Tornadoes are also in Class 5A, however, Dover decided not to compete in the tournament this season.
The Class 5A Semifinals are scheduled to held Wednesday down at the I-470 Complex with the tournament finals being set for Friday and Saturday.
The standings were updated Saturday night, and the standings in 5A did not change.
Prior to taking part in the tournament, Big Red is scheduled to play Strasburg at 5 p.m. Tuesday at home.
"Strasburg is Strasburg," DiMarzio said. "It is going to be fun. Tom (Spidell) is a good coach. They have a good team. It is always fun."
The Tigers enter the game with a record of 9-8.
"What makes it different? That they are not undefeated? They could be 8-7 right now and end up back where they have been the last four years," DiMarzio said. "Strasburg is Strasburg. They have a good coach, they have a good staff and they have good kids. They work hard. At the end of the season, they may be right back to where they were the last four years.
"It is just a matter of getting hot at the right point. I don't care if you are 7-20, but if you get hot at the right time, you can end up right where you want to be.
"It's like if you get a hot goalie in the NHL playoffs. If you get a hot goalie, you are going to go far."
Dover is slated to play Wooster at 5 p.m. Tuesday on the road.
Game 1
Dover 4, Big Red 2
Dover 000 010 3 – 4 8 1
Big Red 000 002 0 – 2 1 2
DOVER (16-2): Molk WP (10K, 3BB) and Bantum. Hupp S, T, RBI; McCue 3S, RBI; Contini RBI; Reese S; Bantum D; Fockler S.
BIG RED (16-4): Edwards LP (1K, 4BB) and Smarrella. S. Zorne S; Edwards RBI.
Game 2
Big Red 7, Dover 3
Dover 010 010 1 – 3 6 1
Big Red 000 304 X – 7 10 0
DOVER (16-3): Greene LP (1K, 2BB) and Bantum. McCue 2S, RBI; Hupp S, RBI; S. Bantum T; M. Bantum S, D, RBI.
BIG RED (17-4): Cadile WP (2K, 4BB) and Smarrella. S. Zorne D, 2RBI; Meyer S; S. Smith T; Edwards D; Matteson D, RBI; Smarella 2S, RBI; R. Zorne S; Tuttle S, 2RBI; G. Smith S, RBI.