Delaware Hayes High School, April 27, 2026: A dark, gray sky hung over Hayes High School on Monday evening, with rain looming from the first pitch. By the time it was over, the field was soaked, the players were drenched, and what unfolded was one of the toughest, most hard-fought battles of the season.
This one didn’t just go seven innings.
It kept going.
From the start, it was a pitchers’ duel in every sense. Avery Reynolds was locked in immediately, attacking hitters with precision and confidence. She opened 27 of 32 at-bats with a first-pitch strike, threw 76% of her pitches for strikes, and issued just one walk across a grueling outing that stretched deep into extra innings. Efficiency, dominance, and control—all on display.
And Hayes knew exactly what she could do at the plate.
After avoiding her bat in their previous matchup, the Pacers stuck to the same strategy, intentionally walking Reynolds rather than giving her a chance to swing. Scioto adjusted, moving her to the leadoff spot to turn those free passes into immediate pressure on the bases, forcing Hayes to deal with her presence one way or another.
For seven innings, neither side could break through.
Reynolds was electric, piling up strikeouts—18 in total—including an immaculate inning in the third where she struck out the side on nine pitches! Across from her, Hannah McAllister matched the intensity, keeping Scioto’s offense contained and turning every at-bat into a grind.
Then, in the eighth, the game finally cracked open.
Scioto struck first. Abbi Clark delivered a clutch single that brought home the go-ahead run, pushing the Irish in front and putting pressure squarely on Hayes. Gina Wasko, Katy Joseph, and Clark each collected hits for Dublin
But the answer came quickly.
Laurel Day doubled to center in the bottom half, tying the game and sending it deeper into the night—and deeper into the rain, which had begun to fall steadily by that point.
By the ninth, the softballs were slick, the players were tired, and every pitch carried the weight of the moment.
Hayes found the final opening.
In a game defined by dominance in the circle and razor-thin margins, the Pacers scratched across the deciding run, ending a marathon battle that felt like it could have gone all night.
Reynolds finished with 24 outs recorded, 18 strikeouts, and no earned runs in one of the most commanding performances you’ll see—but in the end, Hayes edged Scioto in extras for a 2–1 victory.
Next up: Scioto returns home Wednesday to face another tough foe Big Walnut and after a battle like this, there’s no doubt this team is ready for another fight!
Go Irish!!!
