Healthy Barker leading Granville into regional tourney

• Abby Barker threw a complete game and also homered against Jonathan Alder in the district finals.
• The Blue Aces are in their second regional tournament in three seasons.

GRANVILLE – Abby Barker did not throw a pitch or a swing a bat a season ago for the Granville softball team, but those in the program knew she certainly was deserving of being a captain.

As good as Barker was off the field in 2014 while rehabbing a knee injury, the Blue Aces knew they were missing one of central Ohio’s best on the field. This season, Barker has reminded everyone just how good she is.

“It’s amazing to have a leader like Abby and a teammate like Abby, so I know we have just all wanted to do this for her and our other seniors,” Sprouse said. “To have her back on the field is amazing, and she is really leading us through this.”

This refers to Granville winning its second Division II district title in three seasons. Barker had no trouble doing the heavy lifting in the district final against Jonathan Alder, pitching a complete game and hitting a home run in a 6-2 victory as the Blue Aces gained revenge after the Pioneers ended their 2014 season.

Granville plays Springfield Northwestern at 5 p.m. Wednesday in a regional semifinal at Mason. Greenville, which finished the season as the top team in the state coaches poll, and Goshen meet in the other semifinal. The regional final is at noon Saturday.

“There are probably like five of us that were there two years ago, so we all know what it is like,” Barker said. “We just keep telling the freshmen that it’s the best experience ever. Just get there and keep fighting and fighting, and it will be a good experience.”

Showing leadership is nothing new for Barker.

“(Barker) has put her heart and soul into it,” coach Rae Stuart said. “Even in the offseason when she wasn’t able to play, she was sitting on a bucket hitting balls or pitching. When she came out this season, she was working her butt off.

“She is getting them fired up. She is working with our freshmen before and after practice. She taken our catcher underneath her wing. Before the game, they were just sitting down there talking about strategy. It is must amazing to see.”

The Blue Aces are missing four key players that were expected to return from the 2014 team, but that did not change expectations. A talented group of freshmen were pressed into duty, and they responded.

Freshman Rose Sawyers hit leadoff against Alder, and classmates Abby Skerbetz and Megan Gummere have added punch to the bottom of the order. Catcher Hallie Garman caught a runner stealing moments after the Pioneers cut the lead to 3-2.

“We had three returning starters this year, so we had to build,” Stuart said. “We had to build with freshmen. They came out and put their heart into everything they’re doing. They have stepped up at the plate these last couple games and really picked up the pieces.”

A one-run loss in the state semifinals stopped the Blue Aces’ postseason run in 2013. Two more victories, and they will have a chance to better that.

“It is very exciting because I was there my freshman year during our state run,” Sprouse said. “I am so excited, and we have so much talent. I think we are going to take it all the way this year.”

ksnyder@gannett.com

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Twitter: @newarkurt