Lady Rockets claim OVAC championship

By Leigh Ann Rutledge

CCM Associate Editor

The Conotton Valley Lady Rockets are back-to-back OVAC Champions!

The Rockets won the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference (OVAC) 1A Championship April 29 at I-470 Complex in Wheeling, WV, by defeating the Beallsville Blue Devils 10-0 in five innings. 

Sophomore Masy Baker put the Rockets on the board in the first period. On a full-count, she hit a three-run homer which bounced off the top of the scoreboard. The Rockets never looked back and brought seven runners home in the bottom of the third.  

Baker, Daphne Stuber, and Delaney Peters had two hits each for the winners. Chloe Stuber, Braxton Neilson, Kenzie Willoughby and Kelsey Edie each added a hit. 

Baker dominated in the pitching circle, striking out 15 batters and allowing only one hit.

Last year, the Lady Rockets shut out Weirton Madonna 11-0 for the title with Baker striking out 13.

“This is our second OVAC championship. We have a pretty good group of girls. Stats show Masy Baker is a force to be reckoned with,” Head Coach Jeremy Bleininger commented after the win. “The girls hit the ball well; fielded the ball well. I can’t be more proud as a coach.”

Bleininger is in his fourth year as head coach and unfortunately, his only senior on the team, Ellie Bower, was unable to be at the game. 

The #2 seeded Rockets face Strasburg, Perry and Newcomerstown this week and then begin Division IV East District sectional tournament action May 10 by hosting #14 River. Game time is 5 p.m.