Conotton Valley no-hits Frontier in OVAC final

WHEELING – Move over, death and taxes, the Conotton Valley Rockets are making their case to join you.

The two-seeded Rockets dominated their OVAC 1A championship game on Friday against No. 1 Frontier, 14-0, to claim their fifth straight OVAC title, a stretch of dominance stretching beyond an entire graduating class.

Maddison Kelley threw a perfect five innings for Conotton Valley, striking out 11 inside the circle and allowing no baserunners at the I-470 JB Chambers Sports Complex, while also contributing to the Rockets’ explosive offense with a double and two RBI.

“It’s a great feeling, every year getting to come down here and compete,” Conotton Valley head coach Jeremy Bleininger said. “The girls enjoy it, and to walk away with five championships in a row is a pretty good feeling.”

Frontier was able to hold the Rockets off the scoreboard in the second, third and fifth innings- but surrendered seven runs in the first inning and seven more in the fourth.

“We knew [Conotton Valley] would hit the ball,” Frontier head coach Samantha Livingston said. “We knew they were a really solid team up-and-down. A few key plays got us in trouble – my left fielder ended up getting hurt, so that kind of led us into some more trouble. We’re going to keep going, learn from it and hopefully we see them again.”

Delilah Williams hit a two-run home run for the Rockets, Ava Williams, Mylie Galigher and Maddison Kelley each doubled, and Brooklyn Kelley tripled for Conotton Valley, ranked atop OHSAA Division VII in the Ohio High School Softball Coaches Poll.

Friday’s was a clash of two defending champions, with Frontier having won the 2A title last season. The Cougars defeated Trinity Christian to earn a spot in the final.

The Cougars will enter into the state playoffs in less than two weeks.

“I just told them, don’t hang your head,” Livingston said. “Be upset that you lost, but it was big to get here. It was a big moment. We could’ve been one of those teams sitting at home not doing anything this week. This is still great and I’m still very proud of them.”