Dublin Scioto High School, April 6, 2026: A cold wind cut across the Scioto field Monday evening, a sharp reminder that spring in Ohio rarely stays predictable. The sun was out, but jackets stayed zipped as Scioto welcomed Westland for a game that quickly turned anything but ordinary.
From the opening inning, the Irish came out swinging.
Scioto erupted in the first, sending a parade of hitters to the plate and forcing Westland into a long, grinding inning. Walks, timely hits, and a couple of defensive miscues fueled the surge, with Gigi Rodriguez and Lyla Magnussen delivering early RBI singles as the Irish built a commanding lead before many fans had settled in.
They added another run in the second on a Katy Joseph single, and with Avery Reynolds cruising in the circle, it looked like a routine night might be unfolding.
Then came the third.
In one of the strangest innings of the season, Westland scored eight runs on just one hit — taking advantage of hit batters, a wild pitch, and defensive miscues to suddenly swing the momentum. With the inning spiraling, Yonit Rodriguez stepped into the circle in relief to help settle things down before Reynolds returned to finish the frame.
Just as quickly as the game tightened, Scioto answered.
The Irish responded in the bottom half of the third, regaining control with key hits from Rodriguez and Maria Wasko, along with aggressive baserunning that pushed the lead back out. Any lingering tension didn’t last long.
In the fourth, Scioto put the game out of reach.
Reynolds sparked the inning with an inside-the-park home run, and the offense followed with another wave — Magnussen, Joseph, and Abbi Clark each driving in runs as the Irish piled on in a seven-run frame.
Reynolds was dominant throughout, striking out 13 over four and two-thirds innings while allowing just one hit and no earned runs. At the plate, Clark led the way with three RBIs, while Magnussen and Joseph each collected multiple hits. Scioto’s patience was just as impactful, drawing 11 walks and keeping constant pressure on Westland’s pitching staff.
Westland managed just two hits on the night, with Payton Justice and Abby Cochran accounting for the damage, but couldn’t recover after Scioto’s early and late surges.
On a night where the weather battled the elements — and one inning briefly flipped the script — Scioto controlled the bigger picture, powering its way to a 23–8 victory over the Cougars. Up next, the Irish play at home on Wednesday against Buckeye Valley in their next game with Delaware Hayes at home the next day. So come out and support your green team!
Go Irish!
