ELM GROVE — Caldwell has turned itself into an OVAC Tournament juggernaut.

The Lady Redskins are the reigning OVAC 3A champions. Prior to that, the Noble County crew won two straight 2A conference crowns. Caldwell has returned to the 2A classification this year and is now just one step away from its fourth successive OVAC softball championship

The Lady Redskins punched their ticket into the title tilt via a sharp 6-0 besting of River at the J.B. Chambers I-470 Complex Monday afternoon, avenging a regular season loss to the Lady Pilots. Caldwell will face No. 2 Frontier in the championship contest.

Two huge factors propelled Caldwell to its victory.

First, and foremost, Makayla Mumaw was brilliant in the circle for the winners. The talented righthander surrendered just two hits while striking out 12 and walking just one.

Secondly, the Lady Redskins were the beneficiaries of five unearned runs in the first inning, courtesy of four River errors.

Lady Pilot hurler Ava Wohnhas was deserving of a much better fate. The talented sophomore yielded just four hits. She struck out six and issued just one walk.

“When teams make mistakes you need to make them pay. We did that today,” Caldwell head coach Doug Pfeffer noted. “We made the most of our opportunity in the first inning, then our bats went a little silent the rest of the game.

“I thought our defense was exceptional. We made two great plays in the outfield in the fourth inning,” he added. “Makayla pitched a whale of a game. She was in total control.”

Caldwell improved to 11-2 on the season. River dipped to 7-6.

Mumaw opened the Caldwell first with a single. Laynie Sidwell delivered the only other Lady Redskin hit in the inning, a double. Two throwing errors and two dropped fly balls sabotaged the Lady Pilots hopes.

“You can’t give up five unearned runs to a good team, especially in the first inning,” veteran River High coach Dave Wright said. “That was the ball game. We had to change our way of thinking after that.

“Ava pitched a tremendous game. She has been terrific all season for us,” he continued. “We made it easy for Caldwell today. The first inning was very disappointing.”

Caldwell added another run in the fourth inning. Moraco singled and scored on a Sidwell single.

Sidwell delivered half of Caldwell’s four hits.

River’s two hits came off the bats of senior ace Courtney Wisvari and Wohnhas.

“We have battled through a lot of adversity this year,” Pfeffer said. “Out of our 18 players, 10 have lost time due to injury. Our best hitter is still out and Makayla is not completely healthy either.

“If that wasn’t bad enough, we have only had two home games. We have had five home games rained out,” he said. “But our girls love to compete. They really want another OVAC championship.