Prep softball: Korth homers after dustup; Davis sweeps series from Syracuse
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- Syracuse High’s Sophia Knight, left, tags out Davis High’s Jewel Korth during a Region 1 softball game Friday, April 10, 2026, in Syracuse. Knight was ejected after the play.
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- Syracuse High catcher Eryn Hamblin, right, tags out Davis High’s Rosalie Hartley (14) in a play at the plate during a Region 1 softball game Friday, April 10, 2026, in Syracuse.
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- Davis High pitcher Serena Roth fires a pitch against Syracuse during a Region 1 softball game Friday, April 10, 2026, in Syracuse.
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- Davis High’s Adelyn Turpin, right, dives safely into third base as Syracuse’s Mckelle Nelson eyes an incoming throw during a Region 1 softball game Friday, April 10, 2026, in Syracuse.
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- Syracuse High’s Eryn Hamblin gets around on a Davis pitch during a Region 1 softball game Friday, April 10, 2026, in Syracuse.
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- Davis High’s Jewel Korth swings at a Syracuse pitch during a Region 1 softball game Friday, April 10, 2026, in Syracuse.
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- Syracuse High’s Ally Matthews winds to throw a pitch to a Davis batter during a Region 1 softball game Friday, April 10, 2026, in Syracuse.
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- Davis High’s Elli Trinnaman sprints home to score during a Region 1 softball game against Syracuse on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Syracuse.
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- Syracuse High’s Paizlee Prathan puts on the brakes on the basepaths during a Region 1 softball game against Davis on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Syracuse.
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- Syraucse High’s Zayley Melaney snags a fly-ball out against Davis during a Region 1 softball game Friday, April 10, 2026, in Syracuse.
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- Davis High’s Rosalie Hartley rounds the bases during a Region 1 softball game against Syracuse on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Syracuse.
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- Syracuse High’s Eryn Hamblin dives into first base against Davis during a Region 1 softball game Friday, April 10, 2026, in Syracuse.
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- Davis High’s Adelyn Turpin secures an out on a Syracuse pop fly during a Region 1 softball game Friday, April 10, 2026, in Syracuse.
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- Syracuse High’s Olivia Brown squares to bunt a Davis pitch during a Region 1 softball game Friday, April 10, 2026, in Syracuse.
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- Syracuse High’s Emily Hunter runs the bases against Davis during a Region 1 softball game Friday, April 10, 2026, in Syracuse.
SYRACUSE — Nothing like a little dustup, adding spice to an otherwise regular region softball game.
Davis High shortstop Jewel Korth got in a rundown between first and second base in the second inning and ended up lying in the dirt.
“I tried to get in a pickle so the girl from third could score and dove back into first base. We were kind of intertwined, and the girl said some words to me and stomped on me,” Korth said. “It hurt, and I have battle wounds. I didn’t want my emotions to show. When I went up to the plate, that’s when I got my revenge.”
As in, Korth smashed a towering home run to straightaway center field in the sixth inning.
“Earlier in the game there was some frustration with the situation going on. I felt disrespected, so I came out with the mindset to just hit the ball hard no matter where it was,” Korth said. “I didn’t do anything at the moment but chose to get my payback at the plate, and I feel like it did that.”
Led by Korth and first baseman Ella Nielson in the box and Serena Roth in the circle, Davis swept a three-game Region 1 series against Syracuse, capturing the final contest 10-5 on Friday.
Korth’s solo shot in the sixth gave the Darts a 7-3 lead and jump-started a two-out, three-run rally.
“I love our team, our lineup. … We’re going to find a way to score runs, get on base,” Korth said.
She batted 3 for 5 with the homer, two singles and had two RBIs.
“This hasn’t been my best series; I’ve been hitting the ball hard, just not what I wanted to do. I came in with the mindset I needed to go up to the plate, be smart and do my job for the team,” Korth said. “We have a lot of good hitters, and my job is to get on base and get the rallies going.”
The Darts (12-1, 3-0 Region 1) built a 6-1 lead before Syracuse (5-8, 0-3) scored two runs in the fifth, closing the gap to 6-3. Center fielder Olivia Brown and catcher Eryn Hamblin had the RBIs for the Titans.
“Our girls did good. They fight, which is what I love,” said Syracuse coach Kristy Knight. “They get excited, hyped for each other and don’t give up … fight to the end.”
With a 9-3 lead after the three-spot in the sixth, Davis added an insurance run in the seventh on the wheels of Nielson. She roped a lead-off triple in the gap, and came home to score on a short sacrifice fly by Koryn Mafi.
That capped an impressive performance for Nielson, a 5-foot-11, fleet-footed athlete who batted 3 for 4 with two RBIs. She did that by singling, beating out a double, and legging out the triple before racing home ahead of the throw on the sacrifice fly.
“I try to run as fast as I can. I always make sure to dive and get around the plate so I can be safe. I’m not super fast, but fast enough to get there,” Nielson said. “My approach today was to stay calm in the box and look for my pitch; something I can drive and score a run. I don’t usually lead off innings. On the triple, I got down in the count, drove an outside pitch and got to three.”
Syracuse added its final runs on a Hamblin two-run single in the seventh, giving her three RBIs for the game.
Davis pounded 15 hits on Friday, 14 off of Syracuse starter Abby Jensen, who walked four and struck out two.
“I’m proud of my team. Our hitting is amazing. We’ve been working hard all season,” Nielson said.
Roth pitched four innings for the Darts, allowing three hits, walking one and striking out six.
Cambell Christensen tossed the last three innings, yielding three hits and punching out five batters.
“Davis is a tough team with really good hitters. Their pitchers were outstanding. It’s both hard and easy to see the same pitcher several times in a series,” Knight said. “We just didn’t make the adjustments.”
Even with the series sweep, Davis still has things to improve, according to Korth.
“Our goal today was to win every inning, scoring-wise. We treat every inning as 0-0 and fell short of that,” Korth said. “That gives us a reason to get better and accomplish that goal next series.”
Knight, a first-year coach taking over from Kelly Anderson, is enjoying the journey.
“It’s been great. It’s been fun to take over and be a part of the program and culture,” Knight said. “It’s been awesome; I get to be here and put my own stamp on it.”
