No. 1 Springfield blanks TC 15-0

CLYDE — Rankings don't mean much most of the time. However, No. 1 and nationally ranked Springfield certainly looked the part in a five-inning 15-0 romp past Columbian Tuesday in a Division I district semifinal at Clyde. The Blue Devils (25-0) scored just one run in the opening inning, but then ramped things up a bit with a six-run second inning, which was helped out by three TC errors in the frame. Springfield tallied four more runs in the third inning to take a commanding 11-0 advantage. Meanwhile, Blue Devils pitcher Mady Yackee rolled right along with eight strikeouts in her three innings in the circle. "We had four errors and three right there in that (second) inning, which hurts. All the credit in the world to them," TC coach Erica Cok said. "Their pitching staff is excellent. I watched them a lot on BCSN and she's an excellent pitcher. It's hard to compare because on those games she threw a lot outside and she mixed things up with a lot inside today. She struck out eight of the nine of us and their second pitcher was excellent too. "It's nice to see Esa (Aller) get a hit there at the end, it's nice experience for a freshman coming up in the last inning and getting a hit."TC was being no-hit until a hard liner hit by Kaitlyn Bates in the fourth inning and Aller had a single to left field as well for TC's two hits in the game. Sophomore pitcher Addison Smith was battling in the circle against the best lineup she's seen all season. After giving up just a run in the opening inning, errors and aggressive baserunning really benefited the Blue Devils. It wasn't until the third inning that Springfield started to tee off on pitches. She went 3 2/3 innings in the circle and was replaced by Olyvia Steinmetz. Despite the loss, it was a solid season for Smith in the circle as she certainly improved throughout the season. With two more years left for her and many of the younger Tornadoes, there's a solid core returning. "This is Addie's first year with any kind of varsity experience, so it's big," Cok said. "She's very good at keeping herself together, which is nice and then Olyvia came in, she's a freshman … she's not really a pitcher per say, but she's been working really hard this season and pitching when we need her to."With just three seniors graduating, there is a lot returning for an improving team. But, the seniors will certainly be missed. Alexis Caldwell, Gracie Chester and Bates are the seniors. Chester will play at Heidelberg and Bates at Muskingum."I can't say enough about the seniors," Cok said. "Gracie is a four-year letterwinner, been a captain since she was a sophomore and really held down that catching position, which is hard to do. Kaitlyn is a three-year letterwinner, hit eight home runs this year and led us in every single offensive category, so yeah we're going to miss her. "Alexis is a real leader in the outfield and has helped out some of the younger kids in the outfield because I start her along with two freshmen out there. All three will be greatly missed."