Jenna Mannon powers West Jefferson softball into OHSAA state final

AKRON – West Jefferson softball coach Jim Stevens and three of his players were understated throughout their postgame press conference June 3 at Firestone Stadium, but multiple yells of joy were audible outside the room as soon as their media obligation was done.

That was a continuation of the fireworks that went off early and often in a Division VI state semifinal against Van Wert Lincolnview, an 8-0 rout that brought the Roughriders to within a win of their first championship.

Junior Jenna Mannon set the tone with a three-run, first-inning home run that cleared the left-field fence in a hurry, and her 10-strikeout, two-hit performance in the circle fronted an error-free defensive effort as West Jefferson (25-5) advanced to play Danville or Dalton in the state final at 5:30 p.m. June 4.

“Any momentum we got from the beginning, whether it’s a good, solid hit or Jenna’s bomb, those moments we have as a team carry us,” senior first baseman Hailey McBrayer said. “Now we have to keep that momentum up throughout our next game.”

Leadoff hitter and senior shortstop Payton Kincade had two of West Jefferson’s six hits, including a single to start the game. Freshman shortstop Mia Burgett reached on an error to set the table for Mannon, a Missouri commit who blasted a 1-and-2 curveball for her 20th home run of the season.

That is second-most among all central Ohio players this season behind the 25 from Ohio single-season record-holder Abby Herren of Centerburg .

“[Lincolnview pitcher Ila Hughes] was working me inside, then I saw an outside pitch and went through it,” Mannon said. “I knew I was going to get one good pitch and I punished it.”

Junior third baseman Emma Trein’s RBI double later in the inning made it 4-0.