East Ridge bats stay hot with 9-0 rout of West Orange to open region softball

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May 8, 2026 - 04:47

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East Ridge bats stay hot with 9-0 rout of West Orange to open region softball

CLERMONT — You know things are going good when you can laugh about a bunt double in the dugout.

The East Ridge girls softball team had the scenario in third inning of the Knights’ 9-0 Class 7A, Region 3 quarterfinal rout of West Orange on Thursday night. East Ridge likes to pound the ball and the Knights average 11 runs per game, but it was a dribbler that was the big blow for East Ridge on this night.

Senior second basemen Veronica Peterson, the coach’s daughter, and senior catcher Leila Bolden led off the third inning with a pair of singles, then senior pitcher Simmone Hymiller offered up the mighty blast. It was a bunt that caught the West Orange infield sneaking in and the ball made its way to the outfield grass while Peterson and Bolden rounded the bases and Hymiller rolled into second with a double.

CrossFit star Molly O’Hara of East Ridge is Girls Weightlifter of the Year

Sophomore shortstop Molly O’Hara, the granddaughter of legendary football coach Bud O’Hara, then stepped to the plate and blasted an RBI double and would score on a sacrifice ground out by Kaitlyn Halley to stoke East Ridge to a 3-0 lead and that’s all the Knights would need.

In the East Ridge lineup, everybody hits. From the top of the order to the bottom, the Knights pound the cover off the ball. Things were no different Thursday night. East Ridge pounded out 10 hits in support of senior pitcher Hymiller, who shut out West Orange for the second straight time in a week 9-0. East Ridge (25-2) also defeated West Orange last week in the district championship 12-0.

Hymiller scattered three West Orange hits and showed great command of her pitches in working through her arsenal of spinners and fastballs. She struck out three of four hitters in the second inning, settling into her groove. She had four strikeouts overall.

“Believe it or not, she didn’t really have her best stuff,” East Ridge coach Al Miller said of Hymiller, who is now 16-2. “She relied more on spin than velo today, which is why we were manipulating the bat and getting the outs that we were getting, which is OK.

“The good thing about her is that she can go to that game … she can rely on spin and she did have some strikeouts tonight because she was locating pitches.”

East Ridge followed up the three-run third with a huge sixth inning that was more like the Knights’ style. Senior centerfielder Bailey Page, Peterson and Bolden had three straight singles and sophomore designated hitter Nadya Zerfas crushed a 3-run triple as East Ridge added to the margin with a five-run inning to close the door.

“Things are going good, We are a team that hits the ball really well and that’s not taking anything for granted,” East Ridge coach Al Peterson said.

Bolden had three hits, and Peterson and O’Hara had two each. O’Hara, the Class 3A state weightlifting champion at 129 pounds last month, was fresh off accepting the East Ridge Athlete of the Year award, which was given Wednesday night.

“I just try to put my team first,” O’Hara said. “We call it a band of sisters because we’re just one big family at the end of the day. We just love playing the game, we all come together, try our best and just have fun.”

Peterson loves the camaraderie of his squad.

“They love playing with each other. They’re just asking for one more opportunity,” Peterson said. “They are a connected team, led by our seniors, and they just enjoy being out here having fun.”

East Ridge finds itself at the same stage at which last season ended. The Knights host Venice (20-6) in the region semifinals on Tuesday. Peterson is hoping his girls move a step further this year and prove their glossy record is no fluke.

“I like where we’re at. I like the mentality of my girls,” Peterson said. “A lot of times you get girls his time of year who are checked out, thinking about travel ball and all that stuff. These kids haven’t mentioned it, not one time.

“They’re just thinking about the next opportunity to come out here and play. As long as we do that, who knows how far we can go.”