Caitlynn Pleska had quite the game against United on Tuesday. (Photo by Ron Firth)

HANOVERTON — Two of the softball powers in the Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference clashed head on here Tuesday evening when United hosted Columbiana in a key conference showdown.

The two teams provided fans with plenty of offensive fireworks as they combined for 24 hits in the game, but it was the visiting Clippers who had the best of it in the offensive slugfest as they posted a 16-6 win over the Golden Eagles.

With the triumph, tradition-rich Columbiana, which hasn’t lost a league game since 2021 and is seeking a fifth straight EOAC crown, improved to 11-5 overall and remained perfect in the league at 7-0.

Columbiana head coach Daryl Kurtz knew his team cleared a hurdle by defeating United but he knows there are still challenges ahead. The two teams will meet again on May 1 at Columbiana

“We shared the conference championship with Lisbon (in 2021) and this would be four outright (EOAC titles) and we have Leetonia tomorrow and Southern twice, Wellsville and United at home and I know the girls are excited for all those (EOAC) games,” said Kurtz.

With the setback, United is now 13-3 and 6-1 in the EOAC.

“We know what they (the Clippers) have, they’re a great hitting team and they’ve absolutely dominated the conference for the last four years,” said United head coach Jen Koons. “They’re a strong team with a lot of really good seniors.”

Columbiana pounded out 14 hits in the game. They had six different players with hits in the contest. The Clippers’ top hitters included senior standout Caitlynn Pleska (two singles, a solo home run and two walks), Cameron Perkins (an RBI single, RBI double and three run home run), Addison Brode (three singles and three RBI), Anna Yonker (two singles and an RBI), Alivia Bell (two singles and an RBI), Maryn Hepler (double) and Kyla Hogan (two RBI on sacrifice outs)

“The team was on fire today,” said Columbiana’s Pleska. “It wasn’t just me, everybody made their effort, so it was really good overall. I have not (lost an EOAC game in four years). Our senior class would be the first in Columbiana history to be undefeated in the EOAC all four years. We really have to focus on these next few EOAC games.”

“Caitlynn Pleska is going to end up with every record in our school’s history,” praised Kurtz. “I think she has eight (home runs this year) now. She’s going (to play college softball) at Arcadia, a Division III school in a suburb outside of Philadelphia. She’s an excellent student, she’s a 4.0 in the classroom and she does everything right.”

Pacing United’s 10-hit attack were Chloe Angelo (single and a three-run home run), Brittany Miller (two singles and an RBI, Miley Pitts (two singles and an RBI), Payten Kekel (RBI single) and Josie Wargo, Callie Koons and Grace Coffee all with singles.

“We knew what we were up against and I’m really proud of my girls, they came out swinging and made it a very competitive game,” said Jen Koons. “One bad inning kind of turned it on its head, but overall I can’t complain with how we battled.”

Both pitchers hurled complete games. Columbiana freshman Addison Brode was the winning pitcher, striking out seven and walking just one. United’s Payten Kekel absorbed the setback and struck out five while walking four.

Kurtz said the team set its goals high at the beginning of the season.

“That was a goal we set out at the beginning of the year and we talked about it and we could be the first team in conference history to go for four years and never lose a conference game,” said Kurtz.

Pleska agreed.

“Of course, our first goal is always winning the EOAC and we’re on track for that again, we have United again and we have to beat them and we just have to keep our focus,” she said. “And then, of course, we want to go as far as we can in the playoffs. We’re also in the OVAC this year and we’re trying to get in the top four in placing. Beating United today actually got us a few points to push our (OVAC) rankings up higher.”

Columbiana, which never trailed, jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, stretched it to as much as 16-3 after Perkins sent a three-run home run over the center field fence in the top of the seventh.

“Really tonight I wish I had 12 (game awards) to give out because one-through-nine as well as the girls coming off the bench all contributed and that’s what it’s all about,” said Kurtz. “We’re really happy with the way we’re playing right now.”

United never gave up and rallied with three runs of its own when Chloe Angelo powered a home run over the left field fence in the bottom of the seventh inning to close the final deficit to 10 runs.

“I’m just really proud of my girls with the way they handled themselves,” said the United coach. “It’s hard to keep fighting when you get down like that but they kept fighting and I’m proud of the way they competed and we’re ready to see Columbiana again May 1st.”

“We knew United was going to be a tough team and hats off to them, they never give up,” said Kurtz. “That’s what we’re looking for, we’re looking for good competition.”

United plays at Southeast Wednesday, while Columbiana will host Leetonia Wednesday in EOAC action.

CO:2-1-1-0-5-2-5 –16-14-0

UN:0-2-1-0-0-0-3 –6-10-2

C — Addison Brode, wp (7 IP, 7K, 1 BB) and Cameron Perkins.

U– Payten Kekel, lp (7 IP, 5K, 4 BB) and Callie Koons.