Bishop Hartley High School, March 30, 2026: A steady spring wind swept across the field Monday night as Scioto took on Bishop Hartley, the kind of evening where routine plays feel just a little less certain and momentum can shift in a hurry. For two innings, neither side could break through, as both teams traded zeros and settled into a tense early rhythm.
That changed in the third.
Scioto struck first when Avery Reynolds laced a double that brought home two runs, finally cracking the stalemate and giving the Irish a spark. An inning later, that spark turned into a surge. Scioto exploded for five runs in the fourth—capitalizing on an error before Reynolds delivered again, this time with a bases-clearing triple. Gigi Rodriguez followed with an RBI single, and just like that, the Irish had built what looked like a commanding lead.
But Bishop Hartley wasn’t done.
The Hawks answered in the bottom of the fourth, pushing three runs across to shift the tone and remind everyone this game wasn’t over. Scioto added single runs in both the fifth and sixth innings, stretching the lead, but the wind—and the momentum—began to swirl again in the bottom of the sixth.
That’s when Hartley made its biggest push.
Five runs came across in a flurry of hits, an error, and a towering home run to right, suddenly turning a comfortable lead into a one-run game. What had once been a seven-run cushion was now razor thin.
Reynolds, who powered the offense with five RBIs on four hits, stayed in the circle and battled through the pressure, finishing all seven innings while striking out seven. Behind her, Scioto’s defense came up with key moments, including a timely double play earlier in the game. Abbi Clark and Gigi Rodriguez had multiple hits in the game and Lyla Magnussen, Rodriguez, and Emma Gamez had an RBI each.
Still, it all came down to the final inning.
With a 9–8 lead, Scioto recorded two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but Hartley refused to go quietly. A double put the tying run in scoring position, and the tension tightened with every pitch. One clean hit could have sent the game to extras.
Instead, the final swing lifted into the night sky… a fly ball drifting toward right field.
Yonit Rodriguez settled under it and made the catch.
And just like that, the comeback ended.
In a game that swung wildly from start to finish, Scioto held on for a 9–8 victory over the Hawks. Next up for Scioto is a game at Westerville South on Wednesday. We hope to see you out there, cheering them on!
GO IRISH!!!
