OAKVILLE — Fox High senior pitcher Avery McKinnon knew the numbers right off the top of her head.
“Five and eight,” said McKinnon, volunteering the amount of wins the Warriors racked up over each of the last two seasons. “Not good. It’s about time for us to get even with some of these teams.”
McKinnon’s revenge tour continued Thursday afternoon as the righthander tossed a solid six-hitter to help Fox knock off Oakville 6-3 in a Suburban Conference Red Pool contest in western Oakville.
Fox (14-12 overall, 4-3 conference) snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Tigers (12-7, 4-3). Its last win in the series prior to Thursday was a 9-5 triumph on Aug. 25, 2018, some 2,602 days ago.
The victory also helped McKinnon erase the memory of last year’s 7-1 season-ending loss to Oakville in the opening round of district play.
“We want to beat these teams to prove that we’re as good as we think we are,” McKinnon said. “It’s uplifting for our program.”
The Warriors also partially evened the score with Northwest-Cedar Hill by beating the Lions 6-3 on Oct. 2 after a one-run loss in 2024. McKinnon allowed one earned run over seven innings in that contest.
“Focusing on beating these teams has been a big thing for us,” McKinnon said. “If we carry that focus, we can hold our own with anybody.”
The Tigers can attest to that. They outscored Fox 81-24 during the nine-game run and had won 13 of the previous 14 games between the teams.
But the Warriors came out with a point to prove.
“Last year we were down on ourselves because we were constantly losing,” Fox sophomore outfielder Madilyn Baldridge said. “We’re winning more this year and it’s an automatic energy boost.”
Baldridge provided that boost with a two-run homer in the sixth inning that stretched the Warriors’ lead to 5-2. It was her first high school round-tripper, and it came at the perfect time.
“I was looking to swing and it just happened,” Baldridge said of the drive over the wall in left-center.
The Warriors are in position to record their first winning season since going 14-9 in 2020.
“It’s the same kids as last year except that they have grown up a little bit,” Fox coach Patrick Lee said. “They’re all more confident because they’ve been around for a year.”
Fox banged out eight hits and each starter reached base safely. It exploded for four runs in the tell-tale sixth inning to snap a 2-all tie.
Junior Aleah Carter got the rally with started with a leadoff double. McKinnon then executed a perfect bunt that was mishandled by the Oakville infield, allowing Carter to zip all the way home.
Baldridge followed with her blast to pad the lead.
Freshman Kara Huffman chipped with a run-scoring single two batters later for a 6-2 cushion.
McKinnon carefully guarded the lead over the final two innings to improve to 8-5. She struck out six including two in the final frame.
“I made a few mistakes, but we got it done,” McKinnon said.
Oakville sophomore pitcher Lola Seawel deposited one of those mistakes over the wall in left field leading off the second.
McKinnon, who has been pitching on the varsity level since her freshman campaign, said the three rough seasons have made winning this year even more enjoyable. Fox was 22-55 over the previous three years.
“It was hard losing,” McKinnon said. “We never got the outcome we wanted. This year, the wins are better, we celebrate more. It’s nice to see the work playing off.”
Oakville came into the contest with one loss in its previous nine games and appeared to be building momentum for the postseason, which begins next week.
But the Tigers committed five errors including a pair of miscues in the sixth inning.
“It was just a bad day,” Seawel said. “We just can’t do it again like this in districts.”
The teams could meet again in the power-packed Class 5 District 1 Tournament later next week at Oakville.
Fox, Oakville, Seckman, Northwest, Lindbergh, Kirkwood and Jackson highlight a talented eight-team field.
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Steve Overbey | Post-Dispatch
High school sports reporter
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