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Kings Marching Invitational
Cross country invitational
Mason softball defeats Oak Hills in sectional finals
Monday, May 19, 2008
FAIRFIELD — Mason High's softball team wasn't going to become another upset victim to Oak Hills.
The Comets made sure of that from the get-go.
Extras
No. 7 Mason scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning en route to an 8-2 victory over the No. 25 Highlanders in a Division I Cincinnati 2 sectional final Monday, May 19, at Fairfield Middle School.
Oak Hills had upset No. 14 Little Miami (7-4) and No. 4 Harrison (3-2) to reach the sectional finals.
"It was very important," Mason coach Brian Castner said of jumping on the board early. "This team's coming off two big wins, so I told the girls that we've got to get on them early because if you let them believe, then you're in for a game."
Highlanders' right-hander Becca Farmer gave up three hits and walked three in the first frame, as two wild pitches and a Katie Mountsier run-scoring single accounted for the Comets' three runs.
"We tend to come back a lot, but it was nice to get ahead early because there's a little less pressure on you," senior third baseman Katie Wills said. "It also sets a tone."
The tone certainly was set, as sophomore righty Christin Miller (12-6) had her way in the circle.
She gave up only three hits and struck out six, while walking six — including five in the seventh inning when Oak Hills (9-19) scored a pair of runs in a steady rain.
"Our girls take a lot of pride in shutting teams out," Castner said, "and I'm sure that stuck with them a little bit. But I'm sure they're happy to get out with a win."
The Comets were aided by two Highlanders' errors in the second when they added two more runs, highlighted by McCall Sheppard's RBI double.
Lindsey Shreve, Mountsier and Sara Rye provided RBIs in the fourth inning to make it 8-0.
"From the very beginning, we felt very comfortable," said Miller, who reached base three times and scored a pair of runs. "We've played this team twice before, and we've faced this pitcher before. I knew we wanted it and we wanted to get ahead early."
Li'Ana Jackson and D.J. Engelman also had hits for Mason, which advances to the district finals for the fifth consecutive year.
"It's a good feeling," Castner said. "As strong as this sectional is across the board, it's a credit to these girls and the credit to the assistant coaches."
The Comets (21-8) move on to face Edgewood (17-8) at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 24, at Lakota East.
Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5113 or smatthews@coxohio.com.
