Tag Archive for: High School softball

BOARDMAN FALLS TO REGIONAL POWERHOUSE

By Matt Morrison


BOARDMAN, OHIO- Boardman has proven time and time again that they aren’t afraid to play anyone.  On Thursday they welcomed in a bonafide regional powerhouse.  After an early 1-0 lead, the Spartans could not keep pace as they lost a close one to Brecksville Broadview Heights  5-2.

Boardman had a little help at the plate as they were led by Natalie Davis, who went 2 for 3 and by Ava Freeborough, who had one hit that when for a triple and then later scored one of the two runs the Spartans had on the day.

Davis was also the starting pitcher in the circle as she allowed 5 hits and 4 runs before being relived after five innings by Gabi Sferra, who allowed 3 hits, 1 run, and sat down 4.

Boardman will head to Poland on Saturday to take part in a three team event.  The Spartans will have a game against Poland at 11:00, and then a matchup against Brookfield at 1:00.  

REBELS CREATE A STORM ON THEIR OWN

By Matt Morrison

COLUMBIANA, OHIO- The weather did not disturb the Crestview Rebels one bit as they cruised to a 16-3 win over Campbell Memorial.

Brooke Brubaker led the way for the Rebels as she went 4 for 4 at the plate, including hitting a home run in the bottom of the third. Brenna Figley also had a productive day at the plate going 3 for 4. Brubaker was also dominating in the circle as she only allowed 3 hits, 3 runs, and sat down 8 batters.

Ramani Adams started in the circle for the Red Devils allowing 10 hits, 10 runs, and one strikeout before being relieved by Bella Ornelas, who allowed 7 hits, 6 runs, and 2 strikeouts.

Crestview improves to 4-0 and will travel to Mcdonald on Thursday. Campbell will travel to take on East this Thursday. 

WARZALA CATCHES IT ALL

WARREN OH- Champion softball is known for the incredible talent that has come through their program.  It shouldn’t surprise anybody when they look at the team’s trophy case and see all the state championship trophies they’ve collected. So when you see them come in this year with one of the best catchers in the area, it shouldn’t come as a shock. Addie Warzala stepped on the local softball scene last season as a freshman. While the Flashes dealt with a nasty case of the injury bug, Warzala stepped up and led her team through the adversity.  Now she’s a part of a healthy star studded roster that promises to make waves in Division III.

Last season Warzala played in all 18 games and hit .396 with 14 RBI.  On defense she made her biggest impression though. She caught all but .2 innings of the season. She made 0 errors all season and caught 8 would be base stealers.  This year in 5 games played shes hitting .667 with 9 RBI and a HR. She’s already more than half way to her RBI total from a year to go. Warzala is adding a seriously dangerous bat to her already incredible defense behind the plate.

Anthony Hartwig had the chance to catch up with Champion’s premiere catcher and talk about her season and career.  They talk about building relationships with her pitchers, what it’s like to play in Champion’s softball program, and so much more. Check out the latest Champion Softball Player Profile only on YSN.

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LAKEVIEW KEEPS THE BATS HOT

By Michael Wolfgang 

GIRARD, OHIO – After tailing 1-0 through the first frame, Lakeview took control of the game to beat Girard 13-2.

The Bulldogs immediately responded by scoring five runs in the top of the second, highlighted by a Kalyssa Werner single scoring one run, a Kennedy Barlett triple scoring three runs, and a Gianna Caruso single scoring one run. Lakeview then used a three run fifth inning, a one run sixth, and a four run seventh to equal their 13 runs in the game. Ava Bacon took the ball for Lakeview.

Bacon pitched seven innings, allowing six hits, two runs, one walk, and striking out a game high nine batters. Solid defense was another component to the Lakeview victory as the Bulldogs did not commit any errors in the field.

Lakeview will next square off against NE8 conference opponent, the undefeated South Range Raiders on Wednesday evening at 5:00 p.m.

WINNING IS IN THE CARDS FOR CANFIELD

By  Ty Bartell

With the weather beginning to warm up, so are plenty of teams after a little over a week of the softball regular season has gone by! One intriguing matchup that occurred Tuesday night was between The Archbishop Hoban Knights and The Canfield Cardinals. Only one loss total between the two programs, as Hoban dropped the opening game of the season to The Massillon-Perry Panthers. For Canfield, they came into Tuesday night on a roll, winners of five straight while out-scoring their opponents 51-3 in those games!

One of the reasons for such a big run differential is thanks in part to junior Malena Toth! Becoming a master of the circle, Toth has, somehow, increased her strikeout production from a year ago and going through respectable and championship caliber programs while doing so! After fanning 17 against The West Branch Warriors and 14 against The Champion Flashes, Toth has shown an aura of dominance that is not to be messed with!

For The Knights, they have racked up a three-game winning streak, following the opening-day loss. Those wins came against impressive competition such as the likes of THe Louisville Leopards, Massillon-Jackson Polar Bears and The GlenOak Golden Eagles! Although Canfield vs. Hoban was not a conference matchup, it was set to be a statement win for either team and a momentum launchpad for the season!

Both Malena Toth and Faith Porter dueled through the first two innings, holding their opponents scoreless. Porter had a comebacker right to her glove that enabled her to get a 1-3 double play! Thwarting any hopes of early offense for The Cardinals. On the other side, Malena Toth started off impressively! The junior struck out five of the first six batters, including striking out the side in the first!

Canfield got the offense rolling in the third when they were able to get ducks on the pond before Jenna Triveri opened up the scoring with an RBI-single. Two batters later and The Cards would extend their lead when Marina Koenig found some outfield grass in right to plate two more and give Canfield the 3-0 lead in the third! Hoban threatened to respond in the bottom half of the inning when The Knights had the bases loaded and only one out. However, Toth reached down deep and registered back-to-back strikeouts to leave Hoban without a run. 

Adding to their lead in the fifth, Canfield scored two more off a Malena Toth double, which extended The Cardinals lead 5-0. Toth was on cruise control in the circle, that was, until the seventh inning. Hoban would get three consecutive hits by Nylah Durham, Mya Akers and Gulia Scaglione to start the seventh! Scoring two in the inning, The Knights trailed by three with nobody out and a potential tying run on-deck. But as most great pitchers do, Toth found a way out of the jam. Getting a comebacker similar to the one that happened to Faith Porter in the first, allowed Canfield to get two outs for the price of one, retiring Mackenzie Wood and eliminating Akers off the base paths. Toth would force leadoff hitter Lacie Quarles to ground out to third, ending the game as a win for Canfield 5-2!

Both teams will be in-action again on Wednesday, April 5th. The Archbishop Hoban Knights are slated to take on The Ursuline Irish, while Canfield is set to square-off with perennial powerhouse, Walsh Jesuit! Interviews with Coach Kernan and Players of the Game Marina Koenig and Malena Toth can be found below!

POLAND STAYS ON A ROLL

POLAND OH- Poland was able to improve to 4-0 on the season by defeating Northeast 8 rival Struthers Wildcats 13-0 in 5 innings on Tuesday.

Poland jumped to an 11-0 lead in the first inning then scored 1 in the second inning and another run in the third inning.  The Bulldogs pounded 13 hits with Mary Brant and Elliana Thompson each adding three hits while Brant collected 3 RBI’s and Thompson notched 2 RBI’s.  Two other players, second baseman Kylee Hudran who doubled and catcher Leanna Boccieri earned two hits each with Hudran having 2 RBI’s and Boccieri one RBI.  Right fielder Meredith Trevis also doubled and collected 2 RBI’s.

Katie McDonald picked up the win over two hitless innings, fanning 5 Wildcat batters.  Morgan Minno took the loss on the mound.  For Struthers Bella Slaina and Ella Bailey had the lone two hits of the evening.

Poland resumes play against Sharpsville on Thursday at the new Bulldog Softball complex at 5:00pm.

*Contributed By John Boccieri

RESERVE HANGS ON FOR THE SWEEP

By Matt Morrison

NORTH JACKSON, OHIO- Western Reserve swept the season series against Jackson-Milton with a 5-2 win on Tuesday. Caylee Selley and Aubrey Kutsko both went 2 for 4 at the plate for the Blue Devils. Hannah Heath was the winning pitcher of the day pitching five innings, allowing 7 hits, 2 runs, and had 6 strikeouts.

Mia Greco and Emily Fultz led the Blue Jays on the offensive side of things as Greco went 2 for 4, including a home run in the seventh inning and Fultz went 2 for 3.

Brena McBeth was the losing pitcher of the day allowing 6 hits, 5 runs, and had 1 strikeout through five innings of work.

Western Reserve will travel to Mineral Ridge on Wednesday to take on the Rams. Jackson Milton will look for their second win of the season when they play Lordstown at home on Thursday. 

WARRIORS SHOW OFF THEIR STRENGTH

MINERVA, OHIO- West Branch had everything go in their favor on Tuesday as they cruised to a 7-0 shutout win against Minerva.

West Branch was strong on the offensive side as they racked up twelve hits on the day. The Warriors were led by Addi Craven, who showed off her talent and went 2 for 3 at the plate.  She brought home 3 runs for the Warriors. Mati Hawk made her presence known as she went 3 for 4 on the day with 2 RBI.

Klary Mckay had an amazing performance in the circle as she allowed only 1 hit, and had 6 strikeouts through seven innings pitched.

West Branch will look to mirror this performance when they play Girard at home on Thursday. 

HUBBARD FIGHTS BACK TO CLAIM FIRST NE8 WIN

By Michael Wolfgang

HUBBARD, OHIO – The offense took control early on as they scored three in the bottom of the first. Lauren Komorek had a big inning with an RBI tripled combined with a Jefferson error to add to the scoring. Hubbard scored three runs again in the bottom of the third inning, highlighted by a Jocelyn Doughton single and another Jefferson defensive miscue.

Phoebe Rusnak led Hubbard with two hits in her four plate appearances. Kaylee Schultz stepped to the pitcher’s circle for Hubbard where she pitched the distance allowing four runs on seven hits and striking out six batters through seven innings of work.

Hubbard will play non-conference opponent Frankfort Adena next on Friday with first pitch coming at 5:15 p.m.

RAMS MAKE THINGS EVEN WITH WATERLOO

By Matt Morrison


MINERAL RIDGE, OHIO- Mineral Ridge got their first win of the season as they defeated Waterloo 9-4 to split the MVAC series with the Vikings.

Lilly Merolillo, Kelcee Dye, and Aaliyah Wall all went 3 for 4 at the plate while Maddy Ylonen went 2 for 4. The big inning for the Rams was in the bottom of the third inning, where the scored 4 runs that was helped by a two run home run by Wall. Waterloo’s offensive side racked up seven hits and four runs on the day, but to no avail. The winning pitcher was Maddy Ylonen, who pitched seven innings and allowed 7 hits, 4 runs, and had 10 strikeouts.

Mineral Ridge will be back in action on Wednesday when they take  on the visiting Western Reserve Blue Devils. Waterloo will be back at home taking on Sebring on Wednesday.