LAKERS TAKE THE BATTLE FOR THE VALLEY

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Photo Credit: Kelly Summers Photography

Andover, OH- In a dominant performance on Monday, the Pymatuning Valley Lakers cruised to a 7-0 victory over the Grand Valley Mustangs, led by Saige Payne’s impressive hitting display.

Payne showcased her batting prowess, collecting three hits in four at-bats. Her triple in the fourth inning and singles in the third and sixth innings contributed significantly to the Lakers’ offensive onslaught.

The Lakers wasted no time asserting their dominance, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning. McKenna Jordan’s walk and Macie Payne’s single each drove in a run, setting the tone for the game.

Pymatuning Valley added another run in the third inning when Mackenzie Kribbs hit a sacrifice fly, extending their lead to 3-0.

On the mound, Saige Payne delivered a stellar performance, pitching five scoreless innings, allowing only three hits while striking out five batters and issuing no walks. Kribbs also contributed with two innings of scoreless relief.

Despite a solid effort from Grand Valley’s pitcher K Hart, who went six innings, allowing seven runs on nine hits, the Lakers’ offense proved too potent to contain.

Jordan’s disciplined plate approach earned her two walks, while the Lakers as a team showed patience, drawing a total of six walks in the game. Allison Clark and Jordan showcased their speed on the bases, each stealing multiple bases, contributing to the Lakers’ eight stolen bases overall.

Defensively, Pymatuning Valley turned a crucial double play and displayed sure-handed fielding, committing no errors throughout the game. Nataleigh Haines stood out defensively, making an impressive 10 plays.

For Grand Valley, T Dryer and A Hostetler collected two hits each, but they couldn’t overcome the Lakers’ dominant performance.

With this commanding win secured, the Pymatuning Valley Lakers turn their attention to their next challenge as they prepare to face Badger on Tuesday.

FALCONS POWER PAST PIRATES

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Photo Credit: Tanya Jean Photography

Perry, OH- In an intense showdown on Monday, the Jefferson Falcons soared to victory over the Perry Pirates with a final score of 8-6.

The Falcons wasted no time making their mark, as Marillia Matuz’s single in the first inning drove in the opening run for Jefferson.

However, Perry swiftly responded, taking a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first thanks to Elise Strahan’s double and a run scored after a tag-up play.

Perry extended their lead with Morgan Winters’ solo home run in the second inning, but Jefferson rallied back in the top of the third. Rylee DeMattia’s single brought in two runs, followed by a groundout by Gabby Barress, putting Jefferson back in the lead 4-3.

The game remained tight, with Perry reclaiming the lead 5-4 in the fifth inning, but Jefferson mounted a late-game surge. In the top of the seventh, Allison Hill, Barress, Adrianna Brass, and Kennidie Rogers all contributed hits, driving in a total of four runs to secure the 8-6 victory for the Falcons.

Ada Sirrine started in the circle for Jefferson, allowing three runs over four innings, while Madelyn Rupert took the mound for Perry, surrendering four runs over four innings.

The Falcons’ offense was firing on all cylinders, amassing 11 hits in the game. Mia Contenza, Matuz, and Brass each collected two hits, while Barress and DeMattia delivered crucial RBIs.

For Perry, Infalvi, Rogers, Rupert, Strahan, Winters, and Emma Brainard each contributed hits, with Infalvi, Rosalyn Tharp, Rogers, Strahan, and Winters driving in runs.

With this hard-fought win secured, the Jefferson Falcons now set their sights on their next challenge as they prepare to face Geneva on Tuesday.

EAGLES SOAR BY THE SPARTANS

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Geneva, OH- The Conneaut Spartans faced a tough challenge against the Geneva Eagles, ultimately falling short with a final score of 13-3 in favor of Geneva on Monday.

The Geneva Eagles wasted no time asserting their dominance, taking an early lead in the bottom of the first inning. A couple of errors by the Spartans’ defense allowed the Eagles to capitalize, with Caidyn Siegel’s double and Claire Cafaro’s single further extending Geneva’s advantage.

In the second inning, Geneva continued to pile on the pressure, adding two more runs with RBI singles from Kailyn Cerjan and Alyssa Palmisano, solidifying their lead.

The Eagles’ offensive onslaught continued into the third inning, where they scored an impressive six runs on just three hits. Addie Sheppard’s walk, followed by timely hits from Cerjan, Bailey Evangelista, and Cafaro, allowed Geneva to further widen the gap on the scoreboard.

Siegel’s strong performance on the mound earned her the win for the Eagles, as she held the Spartans to just three hits and three runs over five innings, striking out four batters along the way.

Despite the Spartans’ efforts, highlighted by Maddy Drew’s two RBIs, they struggled to keep pace with Geneva’s relentless offense. Drew, along with Ashlyn Sherman and Belle Fix, contributed hits for the Spartans.

On the defensive side, the Spartans managed to turn one double play, but it wasn’t enough to slow down Geneva’s potent lineup.

Geneva’s offense was firing on all cylinders, amassing 11 hits throughout the game. Cerjan led the charge with a perfect three hits in three at-bats, while Palmisano, Cafaro, and Siegel each drove in two runs for the Eagles. Savanna Burton also contributed with two hits of her own.

With a flawless defensive performance and a dominant showing at the plate, the Geneva Eagles secured a decisive victory. Meanwhile, the Conneaut Spartans will look to bounce back as they hit the road to face the Madison Blue Streaks on Tuesday.

HERALDS BATS EXPLOSIVE IN WIN OVER BOMBERS

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Ashtabula, OH- In an impressive display on the diamond, the St. John Heralds secured a commanding 12-4 victory over the Windham Bombers on Sunday. The Heralds showcased their prowess both at the plate and on the mound, earning a decisive win on their home turf.

The Windham Bombers struck first in the opening inning, with Sydney Sweet’s single driving in an early run. However, the Heralds quickly responded, leveling the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the inning courtesy of a run scored on a wild pitch.

Building on their momentum, the Heralds surged ahead in the second inning, capitalizing on walks drawn by Chay Oliveras and Rylee Frasure to take a 3-1 lead.

Caitlyn Carney’s clutch double in the third inning further extended the Heralds’ lead to 5-2, providing a significant boost to their offensive effort.

The sixth inning proved to be a turning point for the Heralds, as they exploded for six runs despite recording just one hit. Errors by the Windham defense, combined with disciplined plate discipline and aggressive baserunning by the Heralds, allowed them to capitalize on scoring opportunities and pull away with a commanding lead. Gianna Torres drew a walk during this inning scoring one run followed by a hit from Alyssa Cevera scoring another and errors leading to the next 4 runs.

Pitcher Isabelle Holler anchored the Heralds’ defense, delivering a stellar performance on the mound. Holler surrendered just one earned run over six innings while striking out nine batters and showcasing excellent control.

Contributions came from throughout the Heralds’ lineup, with Carney leading the offensive charge with two runs batted in. Despite being the number nine hitter, Carney’s impactful performance played a crucial role in the team’s success.

Additional hits from Holler, Frasure, Carney, Alyssa Cevera, Isabelle Stern, Emma Hutchins, and Oliveras highlighted the depth of the Heralds’ batting lineup.

With disciplined plate discipline leading to nine walks drawn by the Heralds, their offensive strategy proved effective in generating scoring opportunities and keeping pressure on the Windham pitching staff.

Defensively, the Heralds executed flawlessly, stealing a remarkable 10 bases throughout the game and showcasing their aggressive baserunning skills.

While the Windham Bombers showed resilience, collecting hits from Skylar Bailey, Sweet, Alexandria Hudak, and Lexi Goodwin, they were unable to overcome the Heralds’ dominant performance.

The victory sets a positive tone for the St. John Heralds as they prepare for their upcoming game against Lordstown, aiming to carry forward the momentum from their impressive win.

ITS A RAY DAY FOR FITCH

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BOARDMAN OH- In a league matchup on Monday, Austintown Fitch took to the road to face Boardman and came away with a commanding 12-0 victory, ending the game in 6 innings due to the run rule. The Falcons sealed the win with a six-run explosion in the sixth inning.

The Fitch offense came out swinging, led by standout performances from several players. Ayla Ray led the charge, going 2-3 with two home runs, driving in four runs and scoring twice. Kaliana Ray contributed with a 3-4 performance at the plate, including a walk and three runs scored. Abby Toth went 2-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored, while Morgan Roby and Kylie Folkwein added two hits each, with Roby driving in two runs and Folkwein contributing two RBIs and a run scored.

On the mound, Sydnie Watts delivered a dominant performance for Fitch, pitching a complete game shutout. Watts allowed only two hits, walked three, and struck out an impressive 13 batters.

Boardman struggled to generate offense against Fitch’s strong pitching and defense. Ellie Wymer and Addie Kowacich each collected a hit, with Wymer also drawing a walk. Maddie Wymer showed patience at the plate, drawing two walks.

Kowacich took over pitching duties for Boardman after Tori Strines left the game with an injury in the second inning. Kowacich pitched five innings, allowing six earned runs while recording three strikeouts.

Despite the tough loss, Boardman showed resilience, and they will look to bounce back in their next game.

Fitch’s dominant performance highlighted their strength both offensively and defensively, setting a high standard for the rest of the season.

RAMS RIP SPRINGFIELD

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MINERAL RIDGE, OH- On a busy Saturday that marked their fifth game of the week, the Mineral Ridge Lady Rams showed no signs of fatigue as they dominated Springfield with a decisive 15-3 victory at home.

Fueling their win was a standout performance from freshman pitcher Savannah Turek, who handled Springfield’s lineup with ease. Turek pitched the entire game, allowing just three hits and one run while striking out eight.

At the plate, Mineral Ridge was on fire. Lily Merolillo led the charge with three hits. Aaliyah Wall, Maggie Collins, and Megan Haynie weren’t far behind, contributing two hits each. Sullivan Sandy, Turek, and Sydney Wyllie each added a hit to round out a total of 12 big hits for the day. The team’s scoring was bolstered by Merolillo, Turek, and Wall, who each drove in two runs, while Wyllie and Haynie each added an RBI.

The Lady Rams also showcased aggressive baserunning, stealing a total of ten bases. Sandy was particularly swift, stealing four bases, followed by Merolillo with three, Wyllie with two, and Haynie adding one more to the tally.

After such a dominant performance, the Lady Rams are set to continue their conference play, hosting McDonald on Monday.

BEAVER LOCAL TAKES TWO

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EAST LIVERPOOL, OH-The Beaver Local Beavers kept their winning streak alive, sweeping Union Local in a thrilling doubleheader with scores of 14-10 and 11-10 this past Saturday.

Beaver Local now stands at a 7-8 record and is gearing up for their next clash at East Liverpool on Tuesday.

In the first game of the doubleheader, Tatum Duncan clutched up with a two-run single in the sixth inning that proved pivotal for the Beavers. Addison Eells, who came in as relief, pitched three solid innings, striking out four and walking two to notch the win. Both Ciara Call and Eells had a hot day at the plate, bagging three hits each, while Delaney Morris smashed two doubles and drove in three runs.

The drama ramped up in the second game, which came down to a last at-bat thriller. Sydney Willson-Plunket emerged as the hero with an RBI triple that sealed the game for a walk-off win.

Call again took the circle in relief and mirrored her first game’s performance, striking out four and walking two to secure the win. Ally Wright also made significant contributions, going 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Eells continued her strong performance with three hits and two RBIs, and Tori Druschel matched with three hits of her own.

With their spirits high after these back-to-back wins, Beaver Local is looking to carry this momentum into their next game and continue climbing up the standings.

LADY LIONS RALLY IN OFFENSIVE THRILLER

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PEPPER PIKE: in a game that can only be described as a rollercoaster, Orange High School staged a massive comeback against their rivals in Chagrin Falls, overcoming a staggering 16-1 deficit by the middle of the fourth inning. The Lions roared back with an unbelievable 16-run rally in the same inning to seize a 17-16 lead. They didn’t stop there, adding six more runs in the next two innings to secure a wild 23-18 victory.

Orange was relentless at the plate, racking up 18 hits throughout the game. Kelsey Lewis was particularly unstoppable, driving in six runs on four hits, including an electrifying inside-the-park grand slam. Shannon McNeeley also had a hot bat, contributing four hits of her own. Clare Hess, Sarah Korland, and Halle Arnold each added multiple hits to round out a robust offensive performance by the Lions, who also showed great discipline by drawing 10 walks.

Despite the high score, Clare Hess pitched the entire game for Orange, giving up 18 runs on 16 hits. Remarkably, she struck out no batters and walked only one. It was a tough day in the circle, but her team’s offensive firepower kept them in the game and ultimately led them to victory.

Next up, the Lions will face Mayfield in the second game of a doubleheader, looking to keep their momentum going after this thrilling win.

DURKIN DOES IT ALL

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By Ty Bartell

GIRARD OH- Time management is often underlooked when talking about high school athletes. Primarily a skill that is nailed down once getting to the college level, some are able to break that mold and start on a path to greatness at an incredibly young age. Girard senior Molly Durkin is one of those players!

A multiple sport athlete, you can find Molly on the volleyball court, the softball field and even cheering during the boys games. A three-year letter winner in the sport of softball, Durkin has maintained her excellence both athletically as well as academically. Serving as the class President at Girard, Durkin also has an outstanding 4.0 GPA!

Wondering how she does it? An incredible amount of patience, determination and focus! Committed to Walsh for the next four years to cheer, Durkin has graciously accepted the challenge of adding more on her plate, serving as a role model to an entire generation of kids coming up below her.

YSNs Ty Bartell got the chance to chat with The Indians senior about the season so far, the college plans, her tips and tricks to time management, her softball experience and so much more! Do not miss out on this very special edition of Player Profile with Molly Durkin! Exclusively on YSN!

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RAMANI ROCKIN IN THE CIRCLE

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CAMPBELL OH- When talking about the world of high school sports every personality imaginable should
be expected to be encountered at some point. This also provides an opportunity to see the next generation of young people grow up before all of our very eyes. Many talented kids with many diverse backgrounds, showing there is always more than one path to success. But what about an underclassmen with the skills and a maturity beyond their years to match?

Look no further than Campbell-Memorial sophomore Ramani Adams! One of the most respectful and well-spoken young ladies in the area, but do not let her kindness fool you, as she is rapidly rockin out the circle as The Red Devils ace for seasons to come! With her battery partner and cousin, MiLeena Williams, Ramani Adams has posted a 4-2 record with a 2.26 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 40 2/3 innings of work, averaging a strikeout an inning at the time of this article!

Flanked by her mother, full-time coach and number one fan, Raelene, Ramani has quickly become one of the top athletes and leading voices at Campbell-Memorial as she blazes a new path for women’s sports in Red Devil Country!

YSNs Ty Bartell got the opportunity to sit down with the sophomore and chat about the season so far, the biggest hurdles she had to overcome, the relationship with her mom and softball over the years and so much more! You do not want to miss out on this edition of Player Profile with Ramani Adams, exclusively on YSN!

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