Granville softball gains revenge, wins district title

• Abby Barker and Shelby Sprouse hit third-inning home runs to give Granville the early lead.
• The Blue Aces got revenge for a loss to Jonathan Alder in the 2014 district finals.

PICKERINGTON – Granville waited a full year for another crack at Saturday.

The Blue Aces did not disappoint. With help from Abby Barker's right arm and powerful bat, Granville (24-6) beat Jonathan Alder 6-2 in a rematch at Pickerington Central to claim their second Division II district title in three seasons.

"To this day, (it sticks with me)," said junior shortstop Shelby Sprouse, whose third-inning home run came two batters after Barker's two-run shot broke a scoreless tie. "I got a little bit of redemption back, but it's great. They are an amazing team and put up a great fight, but I am glad we are the ones advancing."

Granville, which lost 2-1 in eight innings to Alder a season ago, plays Springfield Northwestern at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Mason in a regional semifinal. Greenville plays Hamilton Ross in the other semifinal.

Barker had to wait quite a bit longer than her Granville teammates. After pitching the Blue Aces to the state tournament in 2013, she missed her junior season because of a knee injury. She has returned healthy and struck out six Pioneers (23-5), allowing just a two-run home run in the fourth inning.

"We wanted this more than anything," Barker said. "It was awesome. (My defense) has had my back the entire year."

Once Alder cut the lead to 3-2, Granville, however, gave Barker the needed insurance. Sophia Ehlers doubled to lead off the sixth and scored on an error, and Olivia Simon added an RBI double in the seventh before scoring on a wild pitch.

"It was just little bits at a time," Granville coach Rae Stuart said. "(Hallie Garman's) throw down to second (in the fourth inning) was huge, and we executed on a lot of the little plays today."

Barker did the rest, digging deep when needed. After a leadoff single and a stolen base put the tying run at second with nobody out in the fifth, she struck out back-to-back hitters. She retired nine of the final 10 Pioneers overall.

Granville had a chance to get the early lead in the second inning, but an athletic play by pitcher Mady Watson got a force at home. In the third, however, Barker lifted a fly ball that carried over the fence in left. Sprouse then hit a line drive over the fence in right.

"I needed that confidence, and Abby hitting it over, it gave me that confidence boost," Sprouse said. "I was able to follow in her footsteps. I was really excited."

ksnyder@newarkadvocate.com

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