RAIDERS HOLD REBELS AT BAY EARN DISTRICT TITLE

/in /by

South Range Softball won their 6th district title in 10 seasons with a narrow 4-3 win over Crestview on Thursday night.

Crestview scored three runs in the sixth inning tying the game, but the Raiders still managed to pull out the victory.  Skyler Mattern and Baylie Bettura all contributed in the big inning with RBIs.

Bree Kohler led the Raiders to victory in the circle. She surrendered three runs on five hits over seven innings, striking out seven.

Kaedyn Sutton took the loss for Crestview. She went six innings, allowing four runs on five hits, striking out two and walking one.

Drew Feren went 2-for-2 at the plate to lead South Range in hits.  Feren led the Raiders with two stolen bases, as they ran wild on the base paths with four stolen bases.  The Raiders didn’t commit a single error in the field. Jillian Strecansky had the most chances in the field with 11.

The Raiders advance to play Champion in the regional semifinals on Wednesday at 5:00 in Massillon.

Powered By Narative Science and GameChanger Media. Copyright 2019. All Rights Reserved.

LADY BULLDOGS GO DOWN SWINGING AGAINST MCDONALD

/in /by

NORTH JACKSON, OH- If you wanted a great softball game, you had one in the Division IV District Semifinal between East Palestine and McDonald.

The game featured an unbelievable pitcher’s duel that featured Bri Callow for the Blue Devils, and Caitlin Mohney of EP.  Mohney was forced into a spot start because Bulldog Ace, Jade McBride was sidelined with an illness.  Mohney stood her ground, and then some.

The game was hitless for four frames before McDonald dropped down a bunt to provide the game’s first baserunner.

Callow mowed through Bulldogs from the circle, collecting 17 strikeouts and only giving up two hits the entire game.  However, it was Mohney that stole the show striking out three, and walking none which gave East Palestine every opportunity to stay neck and neck with one of the valley’s top offenses.

The stage was set in the bottom of the sixth when Megan Ward ripped a triple and scored later in the inning.

The Lady Bulldogs didn’t take long to respond.

Bulldog senior, Delaney Early would lead by example and get on by any means- in this case an infield grounder that the throw went wild to first-planting Early at second to start the final frame.  Joclyn Fristik followed with a bunt single that put runners on the corners.  Junior, Kenzee Johnston then had a Texas Leaguer that would score Early, and tie the game.  A bunt by Harlie Deitrich would score Fristik and give the Bulldogs the lead they had been after the whole game at 2-1.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Lady Devils wasted no time getting to work and pounded out 3 doubles including a walk-off be Sierra Schrader to win the game for McDonald, 3-2.

The Lady Devils will play East Canton this afternoon to decide the District Champion.

 

GAME NOTES

*East Palestine Sophomore Center Fielder Morgan Rutledge laid out for a ball defensively late in the game that was against the fence.  Rutledge hit the fence at full speed, bounced up and held the McDonald batter to a double.

*The Bulldogs lose 2 players to graduation, Delaney Early and Taylor Hostetter have helped build a strong foundation for softball in East Palestine.  They finished their senior season 17-7.

*McDonald now holds an MVAC title, Sectional Title, and will play for Districts on Thursday at 5pm

LADY QUAKERS BREAK RECORDS AGAINST CARROLLTON

/in /by

CARROLLTON, OH- On February 23rd, 2018 on the first day of practice following tryouts, the Lady Quakers sat down for a chat at home plate in the Salem Community Center. A goal was set to break the school record for wins in a season. A paper chain was made with 15 links and each one would be ripped off to countdown the record. The 2018 season came and passed and Salem ended the season at 13 wins, one shy of tying the record and 2 shy of beating it. So, two links remained and were carried with coaches until the 2019 Lady Quakers got within the two wins. With the old chain brought back out the last link was ripped by each senior with today’s 7-3 win at Carrollton and consider it Mission Accomplished! The old record of 14 wins held since 1993. In fact, this season is the first that Salem has had a winning record in over 20 years. The Lady Quakers enjoyed a meal together to celebrate after the game.

Elly Exline singled with one out in the top of the 1st inning. That hit was her 40th and it broke the single-season record. Elly would add two more hits and end the season at a remarkable 42. Taylor Thorpe would follow with a bunt single. Hayden Carner hit an RBI double down the left field line for her 26th  RBI on the season which is another school record. Meg Rossero loaded the bases with the 4 consecutive Quaker hit in the inning. With two outs Jessica Slocum slammed a two rbi single up the middle on the first pitch of her at-bat.

Bailee Thorn doubled and singled twice scoring two more runs. She has scored 33 runs which is a new record as well. Taylor Thorpe, Meg Rossero and Hayden Carner had two hits on the evening. With the three hits, Elly Exline broke the single-season batting average record of .476 set by Clara Janofa. Elly finishes the season at a .488 clip.

Senior Kennedy Grimes would score the 7th run to help secure the victory.

Taylor Thorpe won her 15th game of the season in the circle and struck out another 12 batters. Her record for strikeouts in a season is now 228.

Bailee Thorn made a nice play on a blooped ball at short and Brooke Veglia dug out a ball at her ankles on an errant throw at 1st to limit any potential rally from the Warriors.

 

*Contributed by Mike Thorpe

LISBON’S SENSATIONAL YEAR COMES TO AN END AGAINST EAST CANTON

/in /by

NORTH JACKSON, OH- It was a start that nobody saw coming.  The East Canton Hornets stung the Lisbon Lady Blue Devils right out of the gates on Wednesday afternoon when they scored five runs in the top of the first inning and eventually settled on a 7-1 final.

East Canton fired up the offense in the first inning, when Alyssa Wahl singled on the first pitch of the at-bat, scoring the first two runs.  Simons would single to right field to make it 3-0, and Reagan Mason would follow up in the next at-bat with a 2-RBI single to right field and a comfortable 5-0 lead.

Marisa Hall earned the win for East Canton Hornets Varsity. She allowed six hits and one run over seven innings, striking out four.  The Lady Blue Devils were able to get under the skin of Hall a few times, but could only cash in on the Autumn Oehlstrom double in the third.  Lisbon left 9 runners on base during the District Semi-Final.

Emma Thompson took the loss for Lisbon. She lasted two innings, allowing six hits and five runs while striking out one and walking one.  Mya Emmerling pitched in relief and was able to hold the Hornets to two runs the rest of the way while striking out 6 and walking none.

Lisbon tallied six hits on the day. Thompson and Autumn Oehlstrom each collected multiple hits for the Lady Devils. Oehlstrom and Thompson each collected two hits to lead the team.

East Canton Hornets Varsity racked up 14 hits. Mason, Mason, Wahl, and Betz each had multiple hits for East Canton Hornets Varsity.  The Lady Hornets will take on McDonald for the District Championship.

 

-GAME NOTES:

*The wind was blowing strong from centerfield throughout the game toward the plate.  Limiting the power of the Lisbon bats once the ball was in the air.

*Autumn Oehlstrom went out her way delivering a 2-3 performance with a walk, an RBI and both hits being doubles.  She also had an incredible play defensively from center field.  She threw out a runner tagging from third base on a fly ball no more than 5 feet away from the fence.  Oehlstrom struck down the runner by nearly half the baseline with a laser on the fly to the catcher to apply the tag.  One of the best defensive plays we’ve ever seen.

*Freshman slugger Justyce Vrable came through with a double that helped spark the Devils for a bit of a rally in the third.  Oehlstrom, McKenna Dailey and Emma Thompson were the only other Lady Devils with hits.  Mya Emmerling had two walks.

*The Lady Devils finish their season 20-3 with an EOAC Championship alongside a Sectional title.

 

“Powered by Narrative Science and GameChanger Media. Copyright 2019. All rights reserved.” 

 

FALCONS FLY PAST NE8 FOE LAKEVIEW

/in /by

JEFFERSON, OH- The Lakeview Lady Bulldogs stayed in it until the end, but Jefferson Area pulled away late in a 3-1 victory on Tuesday. The game was tied at one with Jefferson Area batting in the bottom of the sixth when an error scored two runs for Jefferson, giving them a 3-run inning and propelling them to victory.

The pitching was strong on both sides. Jefferson Area pitchers struck out six, while Lakeview sat down four.

Wilber pitched Jefferson to victory. She allowed four hits and one run over seven innings, striking out six and walking one.

Cait Kelm took the tough loss for Lakeview Bulldogs. She surrendered three runs on five hits over six innings, striking out four.

Beady Titus went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead the Lady Dogs in hits.

Jefferson Area didn’t commit a single error in the field. Wilber had the most chances in the field with 11.

 

 

“Powered by Narrative Science and GameChanger Media. Copyright 2019. All rights reserved.” 

IRISH HOLD OFF WARRIORS RALLY ADVANCE TO THE TITLE GAME

/in /by

The Ursuline Irish advanced to the Youngstown district championship on Tuesday night with a 9-7 win over West Branch

Ursuline jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first with extra-base hits by Julia Nutter and Emily Holland.

West Branch answered back 5 runs in the top of the second largely in part to Riley Mesler, who finished 1-3 with 2 RBIs.

The score stayed at 5-3 until Ursuline got the offense going again in the 5th with 4 more runs, two more hit in by Holland. She finished 3-4 with 4 RBIs.

After the 6th, Ursuline was holding on to a 9-5 lead, but with two outs in the top of the 7th West Branch started to fight back. Grace Heath hit a two run homer to bring it within 2. Emily Holland was relieved by Emma Ericson for the final out when Peyton Alazaus flew out to first. Securing the 9-7 Irish victory.

Emily Holland led the way offensively for the Lady Irish with 3 hits and 4 RBI.  Maris Barbato also had three hits in the victory.

Ursuline advances to play Poland in the Youngstown District Championship game on Thursday night at 4:00 at YSU Softball Complex.

POLAND RACES PAST MOONEY ON ROUTE TO TITLE GAME

/in /by

Poland advanced to the Youngstown District Championship game on Tuesday with a 8-2 win over Mooney.

Poland got things started in the first inning when Ashley Wire doubled on a 2-0 count, scoring one run.

The Bulldogs tallied four runs in the third inning.  Poland’s big inning was driven by doubles by Lauren Sienkiewicz and Abby Farber and a single by Tori Modarelli.

Wire pitched Poland to victory. She allowed five hits and two runs over seven innings, striking out two and walking one.

Alaina Francis took the loss for Cardinal Mooney. She lasted six innings, allowing nine hits and eight runs while striking out four.

Poland tallied ten hits in the game.  Wire, Farber, and Cami Lattanzio each racked up multiple hits.  Lattanzio, Farber, and Wire all had two hits to lead the Bulldogs.

Poland advances to play Ursuline in the Youngstown District Championship on Thursday night at 4:00 at the YSU Softball Complex.

Powered By Narative Science and GameChanger Media. Copyright 2019. All Rights Reserved. 

REBELS TAKE DOWN REIGNING CHAMPS

/in /by

The Crestview Rebels advanced to the South Range District Championship on Tuesday night with a 6-0 victory over Waterloo.

The Rebels scored quick in the top of the 1st as Olivia Strank scored on a passed ball putting Crestview up  1-0.

The 2nd inning started off very well for the Rebels as Taylor Mellington singled and McKenna Schultz walked. Ashton Hughes then followed up with a bunt single loading the bases for the top of the order. Waterloo then looked to get out of the inning, inducing a 1-2-3 double play and turning what looked to be a big Rebel inning into one that they could get out of with no damage. Olivia Strank had other plans however as she hit a two out 2 RBI single into shallow right field putting the Rebels up 3-0.

The Rebels added insurance runs in the 3rd, 6th and 7th innings to make their lead even more commanding. Baylis Bettura helped out with the late runs gathering 2 RBI.

Kaedyn Sutton got the win in the circle for the Rebels. She went 7 innings and only gave up 2 hits. She struck out 9. With the win Sutton breaks the program record for wins in a season with 16,

Crestview advances to play South Range in the South Range District Championship on Thursday night at 5:00 at the South Range Softball Complex.

 

RAIDERS POWER PAST TIGERS PUNCH TICKET TO CHAMPIONSHIP

/in /by

South Range advanced to the South Range district championship game on Tuesday night with a 6-2 win over Springfield.

South Range opened up scoring in the first inning, when Bree Kohler hit a solo homer.

Bree Kohler earned the win for South Range in the circle. She allowed five hits and two runs over seven innings, striking out 11.

Abby Joseph took the loss for Springfield. She lasted five innings, allowing nine hits and six runs while striking out one and walking zero.

The Raiders socked two home runs on the day. Bree Kohler went deep in the first inning. Jillian Strecansky went for the long ball in the sixth inning.

The Raiders racked up ten hits on the day.  Reagan Irons and Bree Kohler all collected multiple hits for South Range Raiders.  Irons went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead South Range in hits.

The Raiders advance to the South Range District Championship Thursday night vs Crestview at 5:00 at the South Range Softball Complex.

Powered By Narative Science and GameChanger Media. Copyright 2019. All Rights Reserved. 

EAST PALESTINE RALLIES TO DOWN LADY QUAKERS

/in /by

SALEM, OH – Taylor Thorpe struck out 15 batters including a string of 8 in a row, but it wasn’t enough to slow down East Palestine.  Thorpe allowed just two hits and 0 earned runs while walking just one. She now has 216 ks on the season. Taylor broke the career strikeout record (Brittany Gregory 449 ks / 2004-2007) at Salem during the game and now has 456 ‘s. An incredible feat in just 2.5 years at Salem.

PHOTO CREDIT: GARY LEININGER

Salem got on the board in the third as Bailee Thorn lead off with a triple and was squeezed home on a perfect bunt hit by Taylor Thorpe. They would make it 2-0 in the fourth inning. Brooke Veglia led off with a single and was bunted to second by Jessica Slocum. Freshmen Rylie Troy singled her home as Brooke hustled to a slide at the plate. East Palestine would score 3 runs in the 6th inning which consisted of a Morgan Rutledge leadoff double, followed by a Del Earley RBI double, a Joclyn Fristik RBI single, and a sacrifice fly from junior Kenzee Johnston.

Brooke Veglia, Elly Exline, Bailee Thorn and Taylor Thorpe each had two hits in the game. Elly’s two hits give her 39 hits on the season which ties the season record currently shared by Bailee Thorn & Clara Janofa in 2016.

Salem will wrap up its 2019 season at Carrollton this coming Wednesday. Win and they break the school record for wins in a season.  East Palestine will gear up for Monday’s 6 pm OHSAA District Semifinal at Jackson Milton against McDonald.

 

*Contributions by Mike Thorpe